Introduction:
This crossing has been proposed after a fatality on Te Atatū Rd in December 2017. It will provide a safer crossing for northbound cyclists at the top of Ōrangihina-Harbourview Park wanting to cross to the painted lanes to continue north (where the current “pedestrian jail” is located).
History:
Members of the group and the local community have been asking for a crossing in this location for several years. The request was always deemed “not necessary”. John Bonner was killed here crossing the road in December 2017. Auckland Transport then proposed adding a shared pedestrian/cycle crossing at the same location as the current central refuge.
In the initial feedback (October 2018), Bike Te Atatū said this was not the right location for the crossing and that it should be further north towards Cellarmans Lane. As well as submitting formal feedback, we also wrote a blog post for Bike Auckland:
In the second round of feedback (July 2019), in which Auckland Transport had moved the proposed crossing further towards Cellarmans, we again suggested some more tweaks.
Outcome:
Latest developments:
The crossing was supposed to be built by the end of June 2020 but Covid-19 has delayed some projects. March 2020: “Due to some property issues at 484 Te Atatu Rd and the uncertainty around the COVID-19 shutdown, we will most likely to start the construction on site from July 2020 at the earliest.”
September 2020: “It is still only at the start of the tender process for the construction contract, so the construction timeline is indicative and subject to the outcome of the tender process. It is likely to be built in the period between Feb 2021-May 2021.” I’ve sent an email to Phil Twyford, Shane Henderson and Brooke Loader on behalf of Bike Te Atatū expressing our disappointment and frustration.
9th February 2021: Ground was broken on this project today, and the project manager says they are hoping to be finished around the end of March.
29th April 2021: The new lights have been switched on, and we are continuing to work with the project manager to make sure all the final details (high friction surfacing on crossing approaches) are finished.
