Controversial project Skypath fully funded, additional Auckland Harbour crossing brought forward

Thursday, 26 April 2018

The controversial pedestrian and cycleway project across Auckland Harbour Bridge, SkyPath, has languished since the council's construction partner Downer pulled out, thanks to the fixed pricing structure.

A controversial cycling and walking path annexed to Auckland Harbour Bridge has cleared a significant hurdle, with full funding now guaranteed by Auckland Council and the Government.

Auckland Council today unveiled the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), a high-level, $28 billion plan.

'I am more than relieved that SkyPath has finally been signalled for funding. This was a long journey for myself and Bevan Woodward, who was the original proposer of SkyPath,' ATAP steering group member and North Shore councillor Chris Darby said.

'It has been 12 years in the making, and I am looking forward now to getting on my bike with thousands of others from the Shore and riding the bridge.'

**READ MORE:

Skypath head Bevan Woodward has been involved in the project since the idea was mooted 12 years ago.

* Construction partner pulls out of SkyPath

* SkyPath builders excited, as judge clears way for resource consent

North Shore councillors Chris Darby (left) and Richard Hills are excited the Government is funding the project, which foundered under a public-private model.

* Northcote Residents Association abandons SkyPath appeal**

Previously, SkyPath was going to be a public-private partnership, but it crash-landed in early 2017, when the council's construction partner Downer pulled out, saying it no longer agreed with the fixed price set for the contract.

SkyPath would be annexed to Auckland Harbour Bridge and could carry up to 14,000 visitors in a weekend.

Earlier, in 2016, six residents' groups were in mediation with the council over the resource consent. By the end of the year, an Environment Court judge had rejected a legal appeal by the Northcote Pt Heritage Preservation Society, clearing the way for building SkyPath.

Now, the government funding put SkyPath back on track.

Critically for Northcote Pt residents, concerned about a large volume of cyclists pedalling through their historic suburb the north of the bridge, ATAP also fully fundedSeaPath, a walking and cycling path leading from SkyPath to Takapuna.

It was envisaged the two projects would built concurrently, so they joined up, fellow North Shore councillor Richard Hills said.

Another significant project, an additional Auckland Harbour crossing had been brought forward by 15 years in Thursday's announcement from 2048 to the mid 2030s.

The harbour crossing would most likely start with a light-rail tunnel, with roading added later.

While building will start in the second decade of the 30-year plan, work would start immediately with a route to be finalised and protected.

The light rail route was envisaged to travel north along the current bus route with a line, called 'a spur' branching off to central Takapuna.

'That occurs because Takapuna has been identified as a metropolitan centre and it builds on those foundations that we [the council] have been putting in place in the Auckland Plan and the Unitary Plan,' Darby said.

For the first time, the North Shore's notoriously congested Lake Rd had been identified as a priority in a transport plan, as had another infamously dangerous road on the North Shore, Glenvar Rd.

There was a big investment in road safety measures, including red light cameras and protected cycleways.

Darby pointed out the regional fuel tax had made the city's first fully funded transport plan, in recent years, possible.