Go West(gate) – New overbridge construction started

Cycle Action Auckland is pleased to hear that NZTA and Auckland Transport today ceremonially started construction on the Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge over State Highway 16, in the Westgate / West Harbour suburbs of former Waitakere City. We look forward to see its grand yellow sweep riding high above traffic!

The bridge will be over 200m long, and will have cost around $6 million when finished in early 2013. By then, it will create a sorely missed link between local communities severed by the motorway.

Locals be able to visit friends or walk and cycle to schools in the neighbouring suburbs in much greater safety and comfort than possible before. Long detours along busy roads and across motorway interchanges to reach the nearby shopping centre, or to connect to the Northwestern Cycleway further south, will be history.

Cycle Action had earlier provided input into the bridge design, and is working with Auckland Transport and NZTA to ensure that better walking and cycling links are created around the bridge so that it can be accessible by the surrounding communities. In the long run, it is also intended to directly link the bridge to an extended Northwestern Cycleway.

CAA was invited to today’s kick-off ceremony, but sadly, we couldn’t make it. We’re talking to Auckland Transport and NZTA to encourage them to make next year’s opening ceremony into a weekend event, so locals and cyclists can have a real celebration!