Auckland Transport has received design funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to construct road projects for the South Eastern Busway from Panmure Station to Pakuranga section of the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI).

NZTA will subsidise NZD11m ($9.33m) of the NZD20.9m ($17.7m) funding for the project, which will be used to build the Reeves Road flyover in Pakuranga, a second Panmure Bridge for the busway and a shared cycle/foot path.

The Reeves Road flyover will replace Panmure roundabout with an intersection with traffic lights.

"With the first stage in Panmure almost complete and delivering benefits already, we are looking forward to the next stage."

A new link road between Mt Wellington Highway and Morrin Road is also being built in Panmure.

Auckland Transport chairman Dr Lester Levy said: "With the first stage in Panmure almost complete and delivering benefits already, we are looking forward to the next stage.

"This funding will allow us to further develop the design of the busway and other major transport projects.

"Public transport is currently a poor option because buses get caught in the same congestion as cars, resulting in long travel times. Large numbers of passengers are expected to be attracted by quicker, frequent and more reliable buses on lanes separate to traffic.

"Buses will run every 5min-10min most of the day and travel times will be reliable. It will take about 27min to get between Pakuranga and Britomart by bus and train, about 8min quicker than currently.

"There will be bigger time savings when the busway is extended to Botany in the future. Together, the AMETI projects are aimed at improving people’s transport choices and better connecting the south eastern suburbs to each other and the rest of Auckland."

Following the approval of construction funding and consents, Auckland Transport plans to begin construction in 2017.

NZTA planning and investment regional manager Peter Casey said: "AMETI ticks a lot of boxes for us in a very busy area of Auckland, where there is strong economic and population growth.

"Supporting Auckland Transport’s upgrades of a whole range of transport choices will improve safety, and make the time it takes to travel between destinations a lot more reliable for people."