Auckland Transport: Keeping Auckland’s major projects moving
Auckland Transport (AT) is making good progress on many major projects across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Karangahape Road’s landscaping is taking shape with new raingardens and 33 new trees. Half of the 2.4km cycleway is now open.
In Downtown, Quay Street is a forest-in-waiting with trees flourishing at the Black Bridge Big Tree Nurseries in Puhinui. The nursery, which specialises in mature trees, is growing native trees destined for Auckland’s growing urban jungle.
On Quay Street, a coastal forest will grow with a mix of pōhutukawa, pūriri, kohekohe, tawapou, nikau and other large trees to create a canopy under which native grasses and shrubs will be planted. It will become part of the growing network of green corridors expanding across the city - attracting birds and creating environments where people want to spend time.
The Lower Hobson Street intersection’s north/west corner will be complete by the end of October with paving works progressing well. The south/east corner will be complete in November and work is underway to reconstruct safe access for the pedestrian crossing across Lower Hobson Street – returning it to its original position.
The Lower Albert Street streetcape upgrade and bus interchange works will be complete by December 2020, while paving works are almost complete along Galway Street. Plantings and the construction of the Gore Street speed table are now underway.
AT’s Portfolio Delivery Director (Projects) David Nelson says further south, at the Puhinui Station upgrade, a key milestone has been reached.
“The first large steel elements - which form the station structure – have been installed and more elements are being lifted in over the coming weeks.
“This important structure begins to show what the building will look like and reveals the rapid progress since the station was closed from late September 2019. The station is due to open in May/June 2021.”
There are currently six cycleways in construction across Auckland, and once completed they will add an additional 11km to the 48km of safe cycleway already built. These include Northcote Bridge, Victoria Street, Tamaki Drive, New Lynn to Avondale, Karangahape Road and Herne Bay to Westhaven.
Finishing touches are being made to Victoria Street and it’s due to officially open next month, connecting with existing cycleways on Nelson Street and Franklin Road.
The Tamaki Drive safety improvement project will improve access to the city centre by connecting with other cycle routes. The project will be complete by the end of April 2021 and AT intends to open the northern cycleway by Christmas (Dependant on the contractor’s programming).
3.7 million cycle counts were recorded in Auckland for the year September 2019 to August 2020.