Steep pavement a ‘major hazard’ for wheelchair users at central Auckland shopping village

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Bill Gruar said the path is a serious safety hazard to wheelchair users

A steep, asphalt slope in the centre of a local shopping village risks sending wheelchair users “flying into traffic”.

The hazard was erected during Auckland Transport’s street makeover of central Auckland‘s West Lynn in 2017 and despite a year of lobbying it remains to be fixed.

Paraplegic Bill Gruar said the “unexpectedly steep” path could cause a serious injury.

Bill Gruar has been trying to get a steep section of pathway fixed for over a year as it poses a safety risk to wheelchair users

“It’s cleary dangerous and inaccessible. I’m a strong wheelchair user, but I know many who would struggle and it’s just not right,' he said.

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'I’ve talked to Auckland Transport many times over this and all they’ve done is put up a sign.”

The hazard was created during Auckland Transport’s upgrade to West Lynn shopping village in 2017.

The West Lynn upgrade aimed to improve the street environment of the suburb by bringing in new cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, footpaths and bus stops.

Business owners expressed dissatisfaction with the end result, with several claiming the asphalt slope caused shops to flood when it rained.

Auckland Transport has erected a sign to warn people of the hazard, but it is still unclear when the slope will be fixed.

AT spokesperson Natalie Polley said the agency acknowledged the present situation in West Lynn wasn't good enough.

“The footpath gradient leading to and from the pedestrian crossing is steeper than it should be and it has made using the crossing challenging for wheelchair users,” she said.

“We need to do better.”

Polley said on completion of the original work, AT was made aware wheelchair access was a problem.

“In January an accessibility audit was undertaken by an independent group and concerns were discussed at length,” she said.

“The assessment was that it could be improved and we are now looking to do that.”

Gruar said the steep slope urgently needed to be addressed before someone got hurt.

“It‘s been two years since the upgrade which was a complete disaster. I think it’s about time they fixed the mess they made.”

AT is in the process of developing design solutions for the village as part of the Grey Lynn, Arch Hill and Westmere improvements.

The council’s transport arm states it will clarify later this year the construction timeline of the project once a final design is reached.