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Upper Harbour Cycleway redesign Upper Harbour Cycleway redesign

Upper Harbour Drive Cycleway redesign

Upper Harbour Drive Cycleway is an important link that will provide future connections to other cycle routes and give cyclists of all experience levels, a feeling of protection and safety when travelling across Auckland.

We’ve been liaising with local community groups and stakeholders and based on feedback, we’ve completed a new design for a two-way cycleway.

Currently there are cycle lanes on both sides of the road, separated from traffic lanes by lane separators. These were concrete separators, which are now being replaced with rubber separators.

A road lined by trees. On the nearest side, between road and footpath is a cyclelane with two lanes. It is protected from traffic by small barriers.
Impression of proposed two-way cycleway, note some parts of the road will maintain a flush median. See the detailed plans for specific details.

In the new design we are proposing to: 

  1. Install a two-way cycleway on the eastern side of Upper Harbour Drive.
  2. Ensure the bike lane is protected which means it will physically separate cyclists from traffic. This provides a safe zone away from moving traffic and stops vehicles from moving into the cycleway (cycle separators)

This includes getting your thoughts on different separator designs.

 Separator type

Construction

Pros

Cons

Rubber / Plastic

Off the shelf products which are be fixed to the road surface.

Cheap to buy and easy, simple to install.

Have high visibility initially (though deteriorate over time).

Can have tapered ends which are mountable and unlikely to damage vehicles if hit.

 

Requires a lot of maintenance if installed for long periods.

Often not aesthetically pleasing.

Break down into small particles (micro plastics/rubber) over time which can end up in waterways.

As they are more mountable, are less effective at preventing vehicles from entering cycle lanes.

 

Concrete pre cast Separator

Units manufactured off site and fixed to road surface.

Are solid and can last 10 years with minimal maintenance required.

Relatively quick and easy to install.

Not easy for a vehicle to mount and so are effective at keeping vehicles out of cycle lanes.

Feels safe for less confident cyclists.

Precast units are less expensive than insitu options.

Can damage vehicles if hit.

Often not aesthetically pleasing.

Concrete manufacture creates Carbon Dioxide.

Higher cost to construct/ install than compared to plastic/rubber.

 

Concrete embedded

Road surface is milled down and separators are laid within pavement and surface is reinstated around it.

Can last very long time (20 years+) with minimal maintenance.

Can be constructed with mountable ends which minimises potential damage to vehicles.

Can be easier to design aesthetically.

Can be designed to be difficult for a vehicle to mount and so are effective at keeping vehicles out of cycle lanes.

Feels safe for less confident cyclists.

Expensive to construct

Lengthy time for construction and can be disruptive.

Concrete manufacture creates Carbon Dioxide.
  1. Install four raised zebra crossings that are level with the footpath, for people on foot or cyclists for safer access to the cycleway and bus stops. Raising to the level of the footpath ensures people crossing can be seen by motorists and will alert drivers to slow on approach.
  • Three crossings are proposed across Upper Harbour Drive, one at each end and one near Greenhithe Road.
  • The fourth crossing is proposed across Greenhithe Road.

Shows pedestrian zebra crossing, which also has a separate strip of green for cyclists to use.

Image : Impression of Shared Pedestrian and Cycle crossing near Greenhithe Road

4. The permanent speed limit on Upper Harbour Drive will be changing from 70km/h to 60 km/h from 2 March 2023. This change was approved by the AT Board in September 2022 following public consultation of phase 3 speed changes in April 2022.

As we evaluate the safe speeds for the two-way cycleway, AT is proposing reducing the permanent speed on Upper Harbour Drive to 50km/h.  

Download the detailed designs of the proposal (PDF 8.73MB).

Creating safe connections to ride

    • Facilities need to cater for people of all ages who would like to cycle or e-scooter, but are not confident enough.
    • Our priority is to ensure no one is hurt or seriously injured on our transport network. Everyone deserves to get home safely and it’s up to all of us to share the road safely with one another.
    • We have a goal to reduce transport emissions by 64% by 2030 so providing you with more travel options is important.
    • This cycleway will connect to other main cycleways – both existing or in the future – to create one large network and make it easier for people to travel safely through Tamaki Makaurau by bicycle.

Download the map (PDF 1.49MB).

Read our replies to frequently asked questions (PDF 415KB).

Korero Mai, Have your say

Consultation on the two-way cycleway was held in February and March 2023. We received 687 submissions during the consultation. 

The proposal to change the cycleway on Upper Harbour Drive to a two-way cycleway on the eastern side of the road did receive some support from the community. There was also a lot of concerns about how it would connect at each end, and the logistics for those on bikes navigating across the connections.

There was overall more support for the retention of the current layout of a single cycle lane in each direction, with rubber separators.  

  • 57% of respondents preferred to keep the current layout with rubber separators.

Following the public feedback and support for the retention of the current layout, AT will proceed to complete the installation of the rubber separators of the remainder of the route on Upper Harbour Drive.  For more information, download the public consultation and feedback report (PDF 2.97MB).