New Auckland bridge plan is 'overkill', says Skypath campaigner of 17 years

Friday, 4 June 2021

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

A transport planner who has spent 17 years campaigning for a walking and cycling path across Aucklands Waitematā Harbour says a new government plan for a new bridge is “overkill”.

Bevan Woodward, formerly a project director for Skypath, a previously planned pathway underneath the Harbour Bridge, said he doesn’t trust Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s (NZTA) “ability to deliver”.

“We have got real concerns and we actually think it is overkill,” said Woodward.

“We have been campaigning for 17 years and we had to fight NZTA’s reluctance the whole way.”

The government announced a $685m bridge dedicated for cyclists and walkers, but Bevan Woodward believes it is “overkill”.

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Bevan Woodward does not expect the bridge to be delivered in the next five to 10 years.

On Friday morning, the government announced a new $685 million cycling and walking bridge across the Waitematā Harbour.

This comes five days after cycling lobbyists broke through a police barricade and rode over the bridge, demanding action to liberate a lane.

Construction is planned to begin in mid-2022, and is promised to be finished within a five-year timeline.

However, Woodward said he doesn’t have confidence that the bridge will be delivered in five years.

“More like the next 10 years,” he said.

“It is hard enough to get a kitchen delivered, let alone a new bridge.

“It will be a billion dollars by the time it will finish, that is just ridiculous.”

Woodward said the best move the government could make is to liberate a lane on the existing Harbour Bridge for cyclists, which could happen immediately rather than wait five to 10 years for a designated pathway.

Cycling and walking activists passed a police line in May 2021 to cross Auckland’s harbour bridge

“It just doesn’t make sense,” said Woodward.

Waka Kotahi general manager transport services Brett Gliddon is confident that the agency “will deliver a world-class link for people to travel across”.

“We have a proven track record of successfully delivering large and complex infrastructure projects.”

Gliddon said with a design and construction alliance already in place, the bridge will be able to be delivered “on-time and on budget”.

Transport Minister Michael Wood said Waka Kotahi will, however, work towards providing “safe temporary trials of using lanes on the existing Harbour Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians”.

Campaigns to liberate the westernmost lane on the Harbour Bridge for cyclists will continue, said Woodward.

Woodward is currently the project manager for Movement, originally Skypath, an idea purchased by Waka Kotahi for $1.9m dollars with the intention of delivering the concept.

Wood said a standalone structure “is the safest option” for commuters who choose to walk or cycle.

The bridge is planned to be built on the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge.

In addition to the estimated $685m cost of the bridge, a further $100m 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.