Harbour Bridge

The fate of a walking and cycle lane trial on Auckland's harbour bridge is still hanging in the balance following a Waka Kotahi board meeting.

Independent advice was needed to provide clarity to both sides around the viability of the trial, he said. The transport agency had argued the Harbour Bridge would be unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists but it had failed to get into specifics, he said. Once the "pent up demand" amongst cyclists had subsided after the initial opening of the trial, the transport agency could then move to a longer term one-lane trial, Woodward said.

Waka Kotahi says it will not open lanes on Auckland's Harbour Bridge for a formal walking and cycling trial, citing health and safety.

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The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Board has confirmed that it will not be opening lanes on the Auckland Harbour Bridge for a formal walking and cycling ...

Waka Kotahi continues to work with partners Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on developing a walking and cycling network across the city that is accessible, safe and appealing for Aucklanders. "Waka Kotahi is strongly committed to providing a safe network for walking and cycling in the Auckland region, integrated with public transport, to support a shift to active and shared modes with better climate outcomes. However, the Board cannot support a trial of lane reallocation on the Auckland Harbour Bridge due to the significant health and safety issues associated with walking and cycling on the bridge structure at this time," says Waka Kotahi Board Chair Sir Brian Roche.

Waka Kotahi has confirmed it will not be trialling a walking and cycling path on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

"Waka Kotahi has undertaken a detailed analysis of all of the evidence available, and having considered that analysis, the Board has determined that a trial of lane reallocation on a permanent basis would not be appropriate at this time." "The most recent safety assessment, undertaken by Waka Kotahi this year, identified a number of safety risks which would be created by the permanent reallocation of lanes for walking and cycling on the bridge. "The risks for people walking and cycling on the structure cannot be mitigated to the level where we can be confident that it is an activity which can be managed safely on a permanent basis.

The board of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has put its foot down on a proposed trial for opening lanes for walking and cycling on Auckland's Harbour ...

"Waka Kotahi continues to work with partners Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on developing a walking and cycling network across the city that is accessible, safe and appealing for Aucklanders. It is one of New Zealand’s most critical roading connections and freight routes. “The most recent safety assessment, undertaken by Waka Kotahi this year, identified a number of safety risks which would be created by the permanent reallocation of lanes for walking and cycling on the bridge." “The board has considered lane reallocation on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on a number of occasions, and it is clear that the risks for people walking and cycling on the structure cannot be mitigated to the level where we can be confident that it is an activity which can be managed safely on a permanent basis, alongside our other considerations of managing the long term resilience of the bridge as a critical transport asset and its key role in the region’s transport network," Roche said. "However, the board cannot support a trial of lane reallocation on the Auckland Harbour Bridge due to the significant health and safety issues associated with walking and cycling on the bridge structure at this time,” says Waka Kotahi board chair Sir Brian Roche. Roche says Waka Kotahi is focused on planning and delivering a range of projects in Auckland which include walking and cycling in order to encourage more people to use active transport.

Waka Kotahi Board cites "significant" health and safety issues.

Waka Kotahi says it continues to work with partners Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on developing a walking and cycling network across the city that is "accessible, safe and appealing for Aucklanders". "Waka Kotahi has undertaken a detailed analysis of all of the evidence available, and having considered that analysis, the board has determined that a trial of lane reallocation on a permanent basis would not be appropriate at this time," Roche added. The most recent safety assessment, undertaken by Waka Kotahi this year, identified a number of safety risks which would be created by the permanent reallocation of lanes for walking and cycling on the bridge. "The board has considered lane reallocation on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on a number of occasions, and it is clear that the risks for people walking and cycling on the structure cannot be mitigated to the level where we can be confident that it is an activity which can be managed safely on a permanent basis, alongside our other considerations of managing the long-term resilience of the bridge as a critical transport asset and its key role in the region's transport network," Roche said. However, it says it cannot support a trial of lane reallocation on the Auckland Harbour Bridge due to "significant" health and safety issues. In a statement today, Waka Kotahi said it is "strongly committed to providing a safe network for walking and cycling" in the Auckland region, integrated with public transport, to "support a shift to active and shared modes with better climate outcomes".

The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Board released the decision on Friday afternoon.