MEDIA RELEASE
23 December 2003

Auckland City’s $20 million footpath upgrade ‘on track’

Auckland City is on time and on budget with a major $20 million footpath upgrading programme.

The new footpath policy, which was approved by Auckland City’s Transport Committee in July following extensive public consultation, is working like clockwork, with all scheduled projects on time and on budget, despite occasional setbacks due to Auckland’s unpredictable weather.

More than 40 major footpaths across the city have now been upgraded at a cost of $4 million from 1 July to 30 November. The process includes Kepa and Holgate roads in the Eastern Bays area (which now boasts red chip exposed concrete), Arney Crescent in Remuera (black chip exposed concrete) and Mead Street in Avondale (black chip exposed).

As all outstanding interim and emergency footpath work is now mostly complete, work is about to begin on three new ‘streetscape character areas’ (SCAs) in Onehunga (east of Selwyn Street between Princes and Arthur streets), St Heliers and Point Resolution. In the New Year work will start east of Ponsonby Road and in the streets around Myers Park (CBD).

Streetscape character areas are defined areas with unique streetscape character. There are 190 within Auckland City. These areas are prioritized for area-wide footpath upgrades based on overall footpath condition, use and financial constraints. Fourteen of the worst areas are scheduled for upgrade starting next year.

Each priority SCA also has a predominant footpath material type allocated to it: upgrading in Onehunga will be with black chip exposed concrete, St Heliers red chip exposed concrete and Point Resolution a mix of red chip concrete and black asphaltic concrete (please visit - www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/projects/footpath/materials.asp to view samples of these types of materials).

Work on the SCA projects will be undertaken by the contractor that has completed all renewal work so far in the 2003/2004 upgrade programme. The extended contract was tendered this year and, in light of the company’s positive track record and competitive rates, was awarded to John Filmore Limited.

Work on all footpath projects will wind down between 19 December 2003 and 5 January 2004, to avoid causing any inconvenience.

Ends

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