Inner West walking and cycling improvements underway

Two new walking and cycling routes will make travel through the inner-west suburbs safer and more enjoyable.

Auckland Transport has begun work on the new facilities on the Surrey Crescent to Garnet Road and Richmond Road routes.

The Surrey Crescent to Garnet Road route runs from the intersection of Surrey Crescent and Prime Road, along Surrey Crescent, Old Mill Road and Garnet Road, up to the Meola Road roundabout while the Richmond Road route goes from Surrey Crescent to ParawaiCrescent. The project will connect to the recently opened Grey Lynn Greenways which runs through three reserves, Cox’s Bay, Hakanoa and Grey Lynn, where the path has been widened and on-road improvements have been made.

Great North Road, between Crummer Road and Ponsonby Road, will also be upgraded as part of improvements in the inner west later this year.

Walking, Cycling and Road Safety Manager for Auckland Transport, Kathryn King says, “Working with our partners we are now half way through our three-year programme of building cycling infrastructure to serve the needs of a growing Auckland. People tell us that they want to go by bike but want to use safe routes where they feel protected so projects like this will only continue to increase the numbers of people we see leaving the car at home and getting active as they travel around their community and to and from work and study.

“As well as great safety improvements, such as speed calming measures like raised speed tables and new high friction surfacing, we are also doing work around the West Lynn Shopping Centre to improve conditions for locals and visitors to the area. The routes also connect up Westmere Primary and Grey Lynn School which is exciting as safe routes encourage kids onto two wheels.”

Pippa Coom, Waitematā Local Board Chair says, “The Board is supportive of completing the Auckland Cycle Network and improvements that make it easier for the community to travel safely around the area. These two new routes will provide great connections to schools, community facilities, shops and to the Grey Lynn Greenway that is proving really popular since it opened in June.”

The improvements are being made possible through the Government’s Urban Cycleways Programme which provides a $200-million-dollar investment in Auckland between 2015 and 2018. New Zealand Transport Agency Acting Director of Regional Relationships for Auckland Pete Clark says, “As Auckland’s network of walking and cycling paths becomes increasingly connected, we’re seeing greater numbers of people choosing to get around on foot and by bike. These new cycleways in Auckland’s inner west will be within 7km of the city centre, providing safer and more convenient connections into the city and neighbouring suburbs, and helping us create a more bike-friendly future for Auckland.”

For more information go to: https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/grey-lynn-arch-hill-westmere-improvements/

ENDS

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