The nation is getting behind the 2011 Rugby World Cup being held in New Zealand but for the neighbours of Eden Park the event is proving to be a nightmare.

Auckland City Council is trying to make Eden Park more accessible and part of this includes a link lane between Sandringham and Walter’s Rd, due for construction by the end of the year.

Eden Park Neighbours Association President Mark Donnelly says the link lane will create traffic concerns that the council has not addressed.

“The road is already on a dangerous bend where two lanes merge into one which produces major safety concerns.”

Over 1700 cars are expected to use the link lane along with many pedestrians going to Kowhai Intermediate School, the Kingsland Railway Station and local businesses.

One business, whose entrance will sit on the edge of the link lane, is Trent Bray Swim School and they are also concerned about pedestrian safety.

“This link lane is going to be right outside a school and will at the very least require speed humps and a speed limit to ensure pedestrian safety,” says the owner Trent Bray.

Mr Bray also fears his swim school will lose access to their car park during the construction period and on game nights.

“We want to ensure our customers can easily get in and out of our car park as the link lane will create more congestion around our facilities.”

Mr Bray says he is not against the upgrade but would like the council to communicate with him.

“The council have not contacted us at all so we have no idea what is planned. We may have to shut down on game nights which would cost us a huge amount of money.”

The council says it is mindful of the number of clients the swim school has and believe the link lane will only benefit the business.

“Patrons will be able to leave the area more directly which means traffic will disperse quicker,” says Senior Project Manager of Transport Infrastructure, Peter Jacques.

Pedestrian safety is not the only concern that the neighbours association has as they are worried that the link lane will attract undesirable people.

“It will provide a hang out away from police and security and I feel very sorry for those people living next to it,” says Mr Donnelly.

The council are aware of this problem and says the link lane’s design will prevent any anti-social behaviour.

“The design aspects include creating a clear line of sight by limiting the number of trees and bushes and allowing vehicle access which provides continual surveillance,” says Mr Jacques.

The link lane is part of an $18 million improvement package of the Sandringham corridor which also includes widening the railway station platform, installing signalised pedestrian crossings and peak time bus lanes.

Anna Colquhoun is a graduate diploma journalism student at AUT University.