I got up rather early on Thursday (6am – SO not a morning person) to attend the opening of the Westgate Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge*. So I got on my bike and started out from Pt Chev to ride 15km outwards to Westgate to do my little part, by representing CAA at the ceremony.

There was a huge community turnout, as well as the expected officialdom – these locals have wanted this bridge for a LONG time, and fought hard for it. Something that was brought home by some of the speeches, especially of Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse – reminding us that it took the death of a young boy (racing his friends, who had used a stormwater culvert under the motorway) before the project was approved, and many more years before it finally got built. When almost all community facilities are on the other side of a motorway, something’s gotta give!

The local community can be proud of their new landmark – particularly impressive the sweeping yellow main truss, and the graceful looping half back on itself of the eastern approach ramp to make sure the gradients stayed suitable for cyclists too. I had a chance to speak with the Jasmax architect who designed the bridge (and some of the other stunning walking/cycling bridges we have seen recently around Auckland) and congratulated him on a sterling job.

On the first day, we didn’t have many cyclists yet in the crowd, which is unsurprising, as the community in the area was, until today, severely lacking in any sort of dedicated cycle facilities.

But as I started out back to town (claiming for myself the first cycle commute using the new bridge) I was pretty sure that all the happy spirits couldn’t help but generate a few new cyclists around there as well. Now only to add some links from here southwards, so people can ride to Henderson and beyond, and we’re set.

* Even NZTA’s manager Tommy Parker agreed during his speech that it wasn’t the most flowing name, and said he looked forward to the nickname the local community would bestow on it. “Rollercoaster Bridge” seems like a good choice to me – fun and fitting the form.

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6 Responses to “Westgate Bridge Now Open!”

1. SteveX says:

   February 1, 2013 at 12:52 pm

   The Rollercoaster Bridge sounds good to me. Should attract lots of BMXers and others who like getting some air. So long as they’re not too disappointed when they discover the gentle gradients.
2. marty says:

   February 3, 2013 at 5:44 pm

   Took my riding group over it today west to east ,I think we have found our new way back to the shore ,better than all the lights and traffic up on Hobsonville rd or Royal rd. That’s one nice bridge to ride and the roller coaster is a great name for it, riding down the eastern end is just like a roller coaster.We took the walkway next to the bridge through the bush to Moire rd which is a nice off road ride but a little narrow so had to keep the speed down .
   • Max says:

     February 3, 2013 at 6:33 pm

     Hi marty – yeah, shame those paths are not designed for cyclists to share with peds. And at the risk of sounding very snooty, please be extremely careful and courteous on such paths (if you aren’t already). Getting better cycle facilities in this city hinges a lot on the other 99% (currently) seeing cycling as a normal thing, rather than something which invades their peaceful bush walks…

     Great to hear the knowledge of the new bridge is spreading.
     • marty says:

       February 4, 2013 at 9:02 pm

       Hi Max the paths are so unkept(overgrown,out of level,small drop offs between slabs etc) you can only go slow!No you don’t sound snooty.I have been keeping an eye on the bridge as it was being built and knew the it was opening soon,I was shocked to hear about it on the radio Friday morning !yes it made the air waves hours after it was opened .So I planed to make it part of our small group ride on Sunday morning ,we may have been the first group to use it as part of our loop
3. Barb Cuthbert says:

   February 6, 2013 at 8:41 pm

   I hear the local school has named the bridge the “Tatau Bridge” as it means ‘we are one together’. That reflects the fact the little boy who was killed crossing the road came from the school, and the school kids are thrilled the community is now connected as one.
4. Jay says:

   February 7, 2013 at 10:22 pm

   I rode from Greenhithe out to Whenuapai and back over this bridge yesterday and didn’t realise it had only just opened. Great ride and enjoyed the mortorway crossing over the yellow bridge…