Northwestern path upgrade Northwestern path upgrade
Auckland Transport (AT) is upgrading the Northwestern shared path to provide safer and more pleasant journeys for all path users.
Construction is commencing on the shared path
Auckland Transport (AT) is commencing with the upgrade of the Northwestern shared path with works scheduled to start the week beginning 26 October. This upgrade will provide safer and more pleasant journeys for all path users. We sought your feedback on these proposed changes in 2019 and received strong community support for the project.
This section of the Northwestern Shared Path is now the busiest cyclist commuter route in Auckland averaging approximately 1,300 cycling trips per day. This section of the path is also very important because it is used by people for a range of purposes including commuting, school trips and trips for recreation.
For this path to be fit for purpose, changes need to be made to offer people walking and cycling dedicated space. We will separate cyclists and other higher speed users from pedestrian movements.
The Changes
The changes we plan to undertake along the the Kingsland and Eden Terrace section of the shared path include:
- The construction of an 850m long cycle path and footpath between Central Road and Haslett Street
- The separation of the footpath and new cycle path with low-lying planting, berm and kerbs
- The reconfiguring of existing access points onto the new cycle path and footpath to improve visibility
- Vegetation removal
- The removal of approximately 17 native trees to allow for sufficient width of the path through narrow and constrained sections and to allow space for new lighting standards
- The removal of shrubs and weed species along the path to allow for improved visibility and the establishment of low native vegetation
- Vegetation enhancement
- The planting of 25 native trees along sections of the path to replace the loss of trees and vegetation improving the overall naturalness of the pathway
- New landscaping along the length of the path to improve the attractiveness and amenity of the path
Other changes to improve pedestrian safety and to manage the way people access their properties on Alexander and Bright Streets are:
- To install visual path markings on road surfaces to promote pedestrian access across the driveway at the end of Alexander Street. We will continue to maintain vehicular access to properties in this location
- To reclassify the thoroughfare road between Bright Street and Alexander Street to a pedestrian mall to stop vehicle movements
A pedestrian mall is a legal reclassification of a road to a pedestrian only zone enabling enough space for the footpath and the separated cycle path through a narrow section of the path. The reclassification of the pedestrian mall has now been completed.
- To ensure vehicles can manoeuvre at the end of Bright Street and Alexander Street, we will install no stopping at all times restrictions to help manage the turning space.
*Artists impression of the shared path upgrade
Feedback received
We asked for feedback on the project from the public in September 2019 and received 396 submissions.
Feedback for the proposal was very supportive with most people requesting the path to be upgraded as soon as possible. To reflect this feedback, AT advised the community that we would proceed with the project design without making changes.
Shortly after we advised the community that construction would be underway by late 2020, Covid19 restrictions and budgetary restraints meant that the project was, unfortunately, delayed.
To see a copy of the feedback report, designs and further detail on the proposed changes go to the website at: at.govt.nz/haveyoursay.
Construction Methodology
Construction will commence the week starting 26 October and it is estimated will be completed by the end of the summer in 2022. Covid conditions and other factors may impact the final completion time.
We will endeavour to maintain access for people using the path as much as practicable during this time. We understand that construction works can be inconvenient and we ask that you respect any restrictions so that the work can be undertaken quickly and safely.
The following methodology has been proposed to minimise disruption and to keep the shared path open during construction. For safety reasons, we may need to encourage users to dismount bikes and walk through this section during its construction.
To allow for the works, approximately 17 native trees and a number of shrubs including weed species along the path will be removed. AT has obtained the necessary approvals for the removal of these trees. A copy of the tree consent and plans is available for you to read on the AT project webpage.
New tree planting and the re-establishment of native vegetation alongside the shared path areas will commence following construction. A key component of this new planting will be addition of 25 native trees to replace vegetation loss and to ensure continued screening between the motorway and residential properties.
All new path sections will be constructed to match the existing shared path dimensions and materials where possible and will tie into the existing shared path, west of the Nixon Park entrance.
Construction staging
You can contact us if you have any concerns during the construction period:
- Email: projects@at.govt.nz
- Call: 09 3553 553.
Auckland Transport Engagement
We are getting on with delivering the project
Auckland Transport (AT) is commencing with the upgrade of the Northwestern shared path and it will be completed by the end of summer 2022.
This upgrade will provide safer and more pleasant journeys for all path users. We sought your feedback on these proposed changes in 2019 and received strong community support for the project.
This section of the Northwestern Shared Path has now become the busiest cyclist commuter route in Auckland averaging approximately 1150 cycling trips per day. This section of the path is also very important because it is used by people for a range of purposes including commuting, school trips and trips for recreation.
For this path to be fit for purpose, changes need to be made to offer people walking and cycling dedicated space. We will separate cyclists and other higher-speed users from pedestrian movements.
Construction of the project was planned for Mid-2021 however, was delayed due to COVID related budget restrictions. We appreciate that this delay has slowed our progress in providing you with quality options to ride and walk through this neighbourhood, particularly because trips along this path continue to increase.
We’re getting on with delivering this project for the community
We sought your feedback on these proposed changes in 2019 and plan to commence construction on these changes in September (this will need to change to align with Alert L3 and the new start date) and will have it completed by the end of the summer period in 2022.
Read the 2019 public feedback report
The upgrade will separate the shared path at the Eden Terrace/Kingsland section into a separate cycle path and footpath. The upgrade will occur over an 850 metre stretch of the path between Central Road and Haslett Street near the overbridge.
View a copy of the design plans here:
Download the Northwestern Path upgrade plans (PDF 4.2MB)
Artists impression of the Northwest shared a path to upgrade.
Proposed works (Kingsland and Eden Terrace Section)
The changes we plan to undertake include:
- The construction of an 850m long cycle path and footpath between Central Road and Haslett Street
- The separation of the footpath and new cycle path with low-lying planting, berm and kerbs
- The reconfiguring of existing access points onto the new cycle path and footpath to improve visibility
Vegetation removal
- The removal of approximately 17 native trees to allow for sufficient width of the path through narrow and constrained sections and to allow space for new lighting standards
- The removal of shrubs and weed species along the path to allow for improved visibility and the establishment of low native vegetation
Vegetation enhancement
- The planting of 25 native trees along sections of the path to replace the loss of trees and vegetation improving the overall naturalness of the pathway
- A new area of landscaping along the length of the path to improving the attractiveness and amenity of the path
A tree consent for the works has now been granted by Council. Read the decision and approved plans here.
Other changes
Other changes to improve pedestrian safety and to manage the way people access their properties on Alexander and Bright Streets are:
- To install visual path markings on road surfaces to promote pedestrian access across the driveway at the end of Alexander Street. We will continue to maintain vehicular access to properties in this location.
- To reclassify the thoroughfare road between Bright Street and Alexander Street to a pedestrian mall to stop vehicle movements
A pedestrian mall is a legal reclassification of a road to a pedestrian-only zone enabling enough space for the footpath and the separated cycle path through a narrow section of the path. The reclassification of the pedestrian mall has now been completed.
- To ensure vehicles can manoeuvre at the end of Bright Street and Alexander Street, we will install ‘no stopping at all times’ restrictions to help manage the turning space.
What the path will look like?
The shared path through this section is changing to better cater to all users. The sample of images and a motion clip below, illustrate a sequence of the path upgrade. The images are indicative only and have been produced by an artist to show how the new path upgrade will look when complete through this section.
Central Road / Nixon Park view
Central Road to Bond Street overbridge view
New Bond Street to Richbourne Street view
Mostyn Street to Haslett Street view
Construction methodology
We propose the following construction and staging methodology and we will endeavour to keep the path open for users during construction. Our contractors will be on-site and will ensure people know what to do. Stages 1 and 2 will be constructed first because this is a narrow section of the path and there are some space constraints. We will finish these sections first to help minimise disruption to users.
- The new path sections will be constructed to match the existing shared path dimensions and materials where possible.
- Construction is estimated to begin in mid-September this year and we plan to have it all completed by the end of summer 2022
- Sections of the works will be undertaken in five separate stages.
Timeline
- 18 October 2021 – construction starts
- Early 2022 – construction finishes.
Contact us
If you have any concerns during the construction period or want to discuss this proposal further, please contact Auckland Transport at:
- Email: projects@at.govt.nz
- Phone: 09 3553553
IMPORTANT: These events will not be held if Auckland is at COVID-19 Alert Level 2 or higher.
Project overview
- Auckland Transport proposes to separate the shared path at the Eden Terrace/Kingsland section into a separate cycle path and footpath. This upgrade will occur over an 850 metre stretch of the path between Central Road and Haslett Street.
- The upgrade will enable the different users to have their own dedicated spaces which will better cater for current and future users.
Artists impression of the Northwest shared a path to upgrade.
Proposed improvements
- Construct a new 850m long cycle path and footpath between Central Road and Haslett Street.
- Separate the footpath and new cycle path with low-lying planting, berm, and/or kerbs.
- Reconfigure the access points onto the new cycleway and footpath to improve visibility.
- Remove five on-street car parks to allow improved vehicle turning movements at the end of Bright Street and Alexander Street.
- Reclassify the driveway at the end of Alexander Street as a shared space to allow pedestrian movement through here while maintaining vehicular property access.
- Reclassify the thoroughfare road between Bright Street and Alexander Street to a pedestrian mall to stop vehicle movements through here.
Pedestrian mall
We are proposing to reclassify the thoroughfare road between Alexander Street and Bright Street as a pedestrian mall which means that it would only be used by pedestrians.
A pedestrian mall is a legal reclassification of a road to a pedestrian-only zone. The reclassification is necessary to enable enough space for the footpath and the separated cycle path through this section.
No vehicles will be allowed to drive into or park on this thoroughfare except for:
- Emergency service vehicles
- Authorised vehicles (with prior permission from Auckland Transport).
We have issued a Statement of Proposal, which outlines the details of our proposal to change this thoroughfare to a pedestrian mall and summarises options that were deemed unsuitable for space. Anyone who wishes to give feedback on this proposal in person will be given an opportunity to do so.
Background
The Northwestern shared path continues to get busier with ridership more than doubling on this route since 2012 to now having close to 1000 bike trips per day through the Kingsland section. The shared path is now the second busiest cycleway in Auckland.
Given the shared path caters to both people walking and cycling, new challenges have arisen as people using the path has increased. There is a particular section of this path in Eden Terrace/Kingsland where capacity is becoming inadequate to safely cater for all users.
For this path to be fit for purpose, changes need to be made to upgrade the Eden Terrace / Kingsland section of the path to offer people walking and cycling dedicated space.
Timeline
- 27 September 2019 - consultation opens.
- 31 October - consultation closes.
- November - December - feedback considered.
- January - March - Public feedback report released.
- March 2021 - Pedestrian mall approved by the Traffic Control Committee.
- Mid-2021 - construction.
Project updates
18 March 2020
Auckland Transport (AT) has announced that construction will start this year to upgrade a section of the Northwestern Path to make it safer for people walking and riding bikes.
Read the media release: Northwestern Path upgrade gets the go-ahead.
27 September 2019
Auckland Transport is proposing to upgrade a section of the Northwestern Path near Kingsland to provide safer and more pleasant journeys for all path users.
Read the media release: Northwestern Path upgrade consultation launches.
Public consultation
Public engagement on the Northwestern path upgrade closed at 5 pm, Thursday 31 October.
Download the public feedback report on the Northwestern path upgrade (PDF 2.4MB, 37 pages).
Download the Northwestern Path upgrade plans (PDF 4.2MB).
When will the upgrades occur
We initially confirmed construction was estimated to take place during the second half of 2020.
Unfortunately, we are unable to meet this timeline as budgets across the Auckland Council family have been severely reduced through the emergency budget. This project along with many others have been affected by this and no longer has funding to deliver this project as planned this year.
We are working to make sure this is prioritised for funding as soon as possible and know how important it is that this happens quickly.
We now anticipate this project will be constructed during the second half of 2021.
Planning and design for this project will continue to ensure we are able to proceed quickly when project funding has been confirmed.
Next steps
We’ll update this page with more detail about the commencement of works once the timing is confirmed.
Public consultation
Public engagement on the Northwestern path upgrade closed at 5 pm, Thursday 31 October.
Download the public feedback report on the Northwestern path upgrade (PDF 2.4MB, 37 pages).
Download the Northwestern Path upgrade plans (PDF 4.2MB).
When will the upgrades occur
We initially confirmed construction was estimated to take place during the second half of 2020.
Unfortunately, we are unable to meet this timeline as budgets across the Auckland Council family have been severely reduced through the emergency budget. This project along with many others have been affected by this and no longer has funding to deliver this project as planned this year.
We are working to make sure this is prioritised for funding as soon as possible and know how important it is that this happens quickly.
We now anticipate this project will be constructed during the second half of 2021.
Planning and design for this project will continue to ensure we are able to proceed quickly when project funding has been confirmed.
Next steps
We’ll update this page with more detail about the commencement of works once the timing is confirmed.