Westie Progress on the NW Cycleway

Dec 07, 2015
Westie Progress on the NW Cycleway

Bike Auckland

Things have been moving right along on the Causeway rebuild, in many cases faster for bikes than for other vehicles.  If you ride out west a lot, then much of this won’t be news – but if you haven’t been out that way for a while, here’s a quick photo update of some very welcome recent cycleway works between Te Atatu and Pt Chevalier.

For the photos and news, we thank our BikeAKL stalwarts Phil and Carol and Wayne, who keep an eye on the great new works (and occasional frustrations) for cyclists that are coming out of the motorway upgrades, and Barbara Ware of the Causeway Alliance, who is always wonderfully quick with updates and responses. NB works are moving so swiftly that even these very recent images might already be out of date by the time you see them!

First up, Carol has sent these pics of the underpass at Te Atatu, which is due for completion before Christmas, woohoo!

Coming up (or down!): One new Te Atatu Bikeway Underpass!
Coming up (or down!): One new Te Atatu Bikeway Underpass!
Taking a bite out of the hill, and also, out of traffic signal delays for anyone riding west-east.
Taking a bite out of the hill, and also, out of traffic signal delays for anyone riding west-east.

 

Still on the western side, this also shows the new cycleway towards the Twin Streams paths and Lincoln Road (for whose cycling future at least, we have been hearing good things).
Still on the western side, this also shows the new cycleway towards the Twin Streams paths and Lincoln Road (for whose cycling future at least, we have been hearing very promising things).

 

 

Here is the eastern side, together with the ramp you come down from the main bridge.
Here is the eastern side, together with the ramp you’ll be riding down from the main bridge.
Another look at the ramp - the old one was one of the steepest (if short) ones on the whole route.
Another look at the new ramp – the old one was one of the steepest (if shortest) along the whole route.
And a look back at the eastern underpass side - apparently, they are working on the murals in the underpass now. Great to see this BikeAKL-inspired project about to open!
And a look back at the eastern underpass side – apparently, they are working on the murals in the underpass now. Great to see this BikeAKL-inspired project about to open!

And here are some photos from Phil, taken on a ride along the causeway on 1 December. “Even those these pictures don’t show it very well, there were actually quite a lot of cyclists through this stretch, mostly traveling rapidly west with the wind at their backs.”

The new path at Rosebank ROad off-ramp, at this stage still with detour onto the older temporary path...
The new path at Rosebank Road off-ramp – at this stage still with detour onto the older temporary path…
Views over the causeway - finally out of the narrow trench. Shame the better views north wont last once the motorway gets raised too.
Views over the causeway – we’re finally out of the narrow trench. Bye-bye permanent mud-puddle and sagging sandbags!
A break area - we understand seating benches etc... are still to come.
A break area – we understand that seating benches etc are still to come.
And another shot looking east. Still a pretty windy stretch - but at least the new surface and width will make your ride home or into town easier.
And another shot looking east. Still a pretty windy stretch – but at least the new surface and width will make your ride home or into town easier.

Also, in case you missed it back in September, the Whau River Bridge is no longer the dreaded narrow one-way game of bicycle chicken! It now looks like this..

https://twitter.com/carolgreen/status/638516766113574913/photo/1

And the approach from Te Atatu is future-proofed for linking to the Whau River Pathway one day…

https://twitter.com/MaxRobitzsch/status/634219180057718785/photo/1

Not covered in detail in this update – because there are so many things going on! – but definitely under progress:

  • the steady work on the Patiki Road underpass, which will finally remove that detour in February or March 2016
  • the section from Te Atatu Rd to the Henderson Creek Bridge
  • the section west of the causeway past Autex
  • and we hear the slightly bumpy concrete at Patiki Rd is being looked at and will be remedied.

And lastly, in nature news: we hear reports of at least 3 pairs of nesting gulls along the causeway section – and even a pair of dotterels who’ve been hanging out with one of the digger operators! Yet more proof that biking is for the birds.

Dotterels
Dotterel duo, keeping an eye on proceedings. Pic courtesy Barbara Ware of the Causeway Alliance.
Westie Progress on the NW Cycleway

By Bike Auckland

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