Comments (2)

By admin, May 13, 2013

From Bevan Woodward, SkyPath Trust

Council supports SkyPath:
Last week Council’s Strategy & Finance Committee voted to support Len Brown’s recommendation for Council staff to advance their work on SkyPath’s funding and delivery arrangements. This will then come back to Council for their consideration which if positive would enable SkyPath to be implemented.

Cost savings identified:
Beca Infrastructure have further analysed the bridge strengthening works required for SkyPath and, through an innovative solution, have significantly reduced the complexity and costs of this work. NZTA will now consider their financial contribution to these strengthening works.

The updated cost estimate (before NZTA’s contribution) is $30.5 million, this includes the landings at each end, special night lighting, security measures, observation decks and a contingency of $4 million.

Updated business case:
Auckland Transport has worked with Ernst & Young to update their business case. The low use/low growth patronage scenario now shows an overall surplus of circa $10 million. We are awaiting their figures for the high use/high growth patronage scenario.

Working with key stakeholders:
We have been in dialogue with the various stakeholder groups as we work on the detail of SkyPath’s landings at each end, see:
http://www.skypath.org.nz/project-status/consultation/

We have reviewed the Northcote Residents Association, St Marys Bay Association and Westhaven Marina Users Association’s submissions to Council which outlined why they are opposed to SkyPath. We believe that each of their concerns are addressed or can be resolved to enable SkyPath to proceed.

“SeaPath” to connect SkyPath to Takapuna:
Northcote Residents Association were keen for us to provide a seamless connection through to Takapuna so that there would be far fewer people using the streets of Northcote Point. Hence we developed “SeaPath” which is now with NZTA and Auckland Transport to develop, see:
http://www.skypath.org.nz/the-seapath/

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or feedback.

Comments (12)

By BarbC, May 3, 2013

Thanks to Auckland Council Parks and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board for a free school holiday attraction at Bayswater pipe bridge on Bayswater Ave, between Takapuna and Devonport. If you haven’t seen it yet, we promise it’s worth a visit.

Brian Perry Contractors are building the new $2.5m bridge which will replace the historic super-narrow cycle and walking path over the sewer pipe. The project is a showcase of construction grunt – a big digger and a crane, a drilling rig, tip-trucks and a heavy duty ‘temporary works’ bridge made of motorway-strength concrete staging panels. I recommend you get this contractor on the job if you want to make things happen – they are weeks ahead of schedule on the project!

All of this gear and construction activity is happening right beside the pipe bridge. This makes it a rare opportunity for local kids and their grannies, dads, mums, big sisters and brothers to be up-close and personal with all this gear and activity. Perry’s staff are clearly well trained in PR, as they are extremely courteous and generous in answering questions from sticky-beaking members of the public hanging out over their construction site.

We all know how kids love to see how building works. They are usually blocked off from building sites by big fences – but not here. Don’t waste this opportunity to get an eyeful of the action. You have until Friday, 17 May – after then the pipe bridge will be closed for demolition to allow the flash new 2.5m wide bridge to be constructed. A temporary foreshore route is planned while the new bridge is built. It tends to get boggy, so isn’t recommended for cycles.

A community celebration is planned for Mother’s Day, 12th May to give everyone a last chance to walk the historic pipe bridge and to celebrate progress towards the new bridge.

Please join us!

What: Sausage sizzle – bike fixup  and community gathering

When: 11am-3pm Sunday, 12th May

Where: beside the pipe bridge, below Bayswater Cemetery, on the Devonport to Takapuna Green Route

Get there by cycling or walking – closest access is from Bayswater Ave  but it can also be reached via the Green Route from Northboro Ave, and the Francis St boardwalk.  For a big day out from the city, come via the Bayswater or Devonport ferries (bikes travel for free and Bayswater Ave is cycle friendly).

This event is brought to you by the Bayswater Community Committee, Auckland Transport, Bayswater Dog Walkers, the North Shore Police BBQ team and Cycle Action Auckland.

Special mention has to be made of Zane Bray (of AT’s Community Transport team) for cycling to all of our meetings, and being the ultimate go-to man for the event.

The Bayswater C.C. and Cycle Action Auckland have been lobbying for years for a new wider bridge – this is a major success to celebrate.

Comments (4)

By admin, March 17, 2013

…because the Devonport-Takapuna “Green Route” path will soon get a new walking / cycling bridge to carry you across the bay north from Bayswater.

This very long, and VERY narrow footbridge sits atop a large utility pipe, and barely has enough width for moms with strollers, let alone for cyclists wanting to pass pedestrians at a polite distance.

The new bridge will make encounters a bit more relaxed, as it will provide 2.5m width. There will also be works on the approach paths, and a wider viewing platform in the middle of the span, so you can gaze over the Waitemata.

Soul Environments and BECA designed the new bridge for Auckland Council, and it will be constructed over three months this winter above the existing pipe.

The only real downside is that since they have to remove the old bridge first to build the new one above the pipe, there will be no connection across for that period – a foreshore detour route will be provided, but it stands to be seen how useful that will be for cyclists in the interim.

At least you will know what to look forward to!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Comments (8)

By admin, February 20, 2013

…oh well, almost every question, including some of the weirder ones that cropped up from unexpected directions around last week’s big vote, like “Is it going to fall off?” or “Will it have air conditioning?” or “Will there be icecream?“

As Bevan Woodward, former CAA Chair and SkyPath Project Director says:

Whilst we are pleased with the outcome of last week’s Auckland Council Transport Committee, we did think we should endeavour to do a better job of clearly communicating where the project is at.

Thus, they have provided this document (SkyPath-Project-Updated). The project recapped in clear language and diagrams. Did you know that:

• the project is still workable at less than 500 cycle / walking commuters a day for the project duration (plus similarly conservative numbers for tourists and recreational users) – less than the numbers on the Northwestern Cycleway now
• the project design, costs and patronage figures have been scrutinised by numerous independent experts, consultancies and authorities
• that several well-heeled charities are on board to underwrite part of the risk, but that the project is actually hoped to make Council money?

Have a read, and tell us this isn’t a steal! Yes, there is a small chance of Council having to cover a “default” (i.e. ACTUALLY PAY FOR PART OF THE DARN THING) – but that risk only occurs IF we get a walk / cycleway over the Harbour Bridge, and pretty much nobody turns up to use it (how likely is that?). But the only reason we are going through this all is because no one in government is prepared to straight-out fund the $30 million.

Lets not waste the chance that, despite all the odds, the Pathways Trust has found a way to make this project happen!

[Oh, and the answers to the questions at the beginning are "No. No. And yes, if we can get some chap to put a chilly bin on a cargo bike and ride up to the observation deck with it."]

Comments (3)

By admin, February 13, 2013

UPDATED WITH LINKS PROVIDING MORE DETAILS  IN THIS NEWS RECAP.

A major hurdle for the Auckland Harbour Bridge “Skypath” has been cleared today!

The Transport Committee today has voted to refer the project on to the Strategy and Finance Committee with lots of positive comments! BIG STEP FORWARD – power to the people – especially if they’re on foot or on a bike!

Thank you all for your awesome support, and even more thanks to the Pathways Trust and all the people involved in getting us as far.