New $685 million cycling and walking bridge for Auckland's Waitematā Harbour

Friday, 4 June 2021

Transport Minister Michael Wood announces a new bridge for walkers and cyclists over the Waitematā Harbour costing $685 million. The plan was scrapped four months later. (Video from June 2021)

A new bridge costing $685 million is to be built for walkers and cyclists crossing Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour.

The government hopes construction can begin mid-2022, in a plan unveiled just five days after cycling lobbyists broke through a police barrier and rode over the existing Harbour Bridge, demanding action.

Transport Minister Michael Wood said once begun, the new structure is expected to take five years to complete, and work will continue on interim use of existing harbour bridge lanes for cycling and walking.

Wood said engineering work had found the previous proposal to build cycling and walking lanes using the existing harbour bridge foundations, was not feasible.

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A proposed $785 million cycling and walking bridge across Auckland's Waitemata harbour was canned by the Government in October, four months after it was announced.

Mayor Phil Goff's view of the Mill Road project In May 2021, before the government down-sized it.

“A stand-alone structure is the safest option that will not only provide a walking and cycling option for commuters but creates an outstanding piece of tourism infrastructure,” said Wood.

“Major international cities all around the world have similar connections and we’ve all seen how well used the (cycleway) Te Ara I Whiti - Lightpath has become, with the Northern Pathway having the potential to be a bigger tourist drawcard,” said Wood.

The minister said an interim solution might involve ideas such as cycling access to the Harbour Bridge on Sundays.

The other major change in the government’s New Zealand Upgrade transport programme, is the scrapping of the Mill Road arterial highway through southern Auckland.

Mill Road, was originally costed at $1.3 billion but Waka Kotahi now believe it would cost $3.5 billion, and it has been reduced to a smaller project focussed on the northern end of the route, and safety improvements.

An artist impression of the $685 million cycle and walkway next to Auckland's Harbour Bridge

“Recognising the need to decarbonise our transport system, we’re rebalancing the package to increase investment in rail, public transport and walking and cycling,” said Wood.

“Instead, we’ve focused on delivering important safety improvements to Mill Road, upgrades to SH1 and rail, and new rail stations connected to public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure,” he said.

Police form a barricade in an unsuccessful bid to keep cyclists off Auckland Harbour Bridge in May 2021

“This rebalanced package helps manage debt, reduces emissions and supports housing growth.”

The new plans were announced on Friday morning as part of the government’s $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade of major transport projects, first unveiled in January 2020.

The new cycling and walking bridge, to be built on the eastern side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, is the flagship announcement in the package.

“Work is also continuing on planning for an additional Waitematā Harbour Crossing. An initial business case was finished last year, and work is being done on enhancing the Northern Busway and developing an additional crossing that includes rapid transit,” said Wood.

Cycling protesters push past police barrier to ride on harbour bridge. (First published May 2021)

The news has been welcomed by Labour MP Shannon Halbert, whose Northcote electorate is on the northern side of the harbour bridge.

“This is a great outcome for our local people,” said Halbert on his Facebook page.

“There is no magic bullet that will solve all of our transport woes, it’s about investing in multiple improvements and options,” he said.

Auckland council’s planning chair Chris Darby, described the announcement as a “relief”.

“After too many false starts and false hope given, twenty years of protest have finally been heard and actioned by government – with a thorough plan that's fully funded, Auckland's beacon for biking has got legs,” said Darby.

”I take my hat off to the Minister of Transport for getting this over the line.”

Barbara Cuthbert, chairwoman of Bike Auckland, the campaign group that organised the protest last weekend, said she is impressed with the Minister’s work in pushing the project forward, but “what we have right now is only lovely graphics”.

Cuthbert said the growing number of cyclists in Auckland can’t wait six years for a bridge.

“We’ve got to do something in the meantime. Give us a lane until that graphic turns into a reality.”

Auckland mayor Phil Goff said the standalone bridge will be a “sustainable and enduring solution that will benefit the city for generations”.

“The Northern Pathway is a vital link in the walking and cycling network across Auckland. It will be well used by people commuting, particularly with the increasing uptake of electric bikes.

“It will also be popular with tourists and for recreational use by Aucklanders.”

The government’s transport agency Waka Kotahi will seek fast-track planning approvals later this year using the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act.

In addition to the estimated $685 million cost of the bridge, a further $100 million is allocated for the previously announced, connecting cycle and walkways through to Westhaven on the city side, and Akoranga on the northern side of the harbour.