Point Chevalier to Westmere improvements (2017-2019) Point Chevalier to Westmere improvements (2017-2019)

AT proposes making improvements to cycling and walking on Pt Chevalier and Meola Roads, from the Great North Road intersection, along Meola Road and Garnet Road, up to the Westmere shops.

Pt Chevalier cycleway update March 2018

After the public consultation for the Pt Chevalier cycleway that was held in April 2017, Auckland Transport took the community’s feedback into consideration. As a result, we decided to go back to the design and planning stage for the project.

Pt Chevalier residents were kept fully informed of the design process throughout the design and planning stage. Furthermore, there were a number of opportunities to feed into the decisions that needed to be made along the way.

The design and planning information in the 2016/2017 Cycleway Planning Process section of this webpage are associated with a previous consultation. They will remain on this page for reference purposes only.


Project status: Design.
Project zone: Central.


Route options

This project is looking toward the future and considering how Pt Chevalier will be in 20 years.

While there are many decisions that were made, it was determined that the best route for a cycleway is along Pt Chevalier and Meola Roads. Reasons for this route included:

  • This was identified as the preferred route by the community.
  • Links to the city cycle network. Future cycling projects will create safe connections to city via Great North, West End and Jervois Roads, and along the existing Northwestern cycleway.
  • Connection to the Unitec development on Carrington Road.
  • Better access between businesses, parks and reserves and other public amenities.
  • Easy access to the cycleway for greater number of residents.

We considered other route options, such as along the ‘bird streets’ (Tui Street, Kiwi Road, etc.), however there are challenges having the cycleway in this area. Parking would need to be removed because of the road width to ensure safety levels are met, whereas Pt Chevalier Road is wide enough to accommodate the cycleway and on-street parking.

Options for Pt Chevalier Road

Based on community feedback, we investigated how a cycleway along Pt Chevalier Road could be constructed without removing the pohutukawa. The consultation also showed that people wanted to retain on-street parking outside the businesses. To meet the community’s aspirations, we realised a bidirectional cycleway along Pt Chevalier Road would create outcomes that would be untenable for businesses and residents. This option did not warrant further investigation.

single direction cycleway on Pt Chevalier Road 1
Caption: An example of a single direction cycleway on Pt Chevalier Road with parking on the eastern side.

As such, a single directional cycleway was identified as the best option for Pt Chevalier Road. To create the space needed within the existing road corridor, AT is proposing to remove the median strip along Pt Chevalier Road. Removing the median strip will:

  • create enough room for the cycleway to exist between the pohutukawa and footpath.
  • retain parking on the eastern side of Pt Chevalier Road to enable access to the businesses.
  • require the footpath width to be slightly narrowed in some areas. The footpath would remain the same width around shop canopies.
  • allow for a bus lane to be installed at the Great North Road end of Pt Chevalier Road to improve transit times during evening peak.

single direction cycleway on Pt Chevalier Road 2
Caption: An example of a single direction cycleway on Pt Chevalier Road, by Wakatipu Street and Formby Avenue, with parking on the eastern side.

Considerations for Meola Road

Our priority for Meola Road is to create a facility that enables cars, buses, people walking and people on bikes to travel safely along the road corridor. Our intention is to retain all of the existing trees where possible, and enhance the attractiveness of the area. To achieve these outcomes, the road area that is currently used for parking along Meola Road will need to be reprioritised to ensure the best use of that space, for the greatest number of people.

A survey of parking use along Meola Road showed that for 90% of the time there is very little demand. However, during events at Seddon Fields there is a short period of very high demand for parking. We will look to retain parking in the Seddon Fields area where possible, and we are working with stakeholders to investigate ways to meet the increased demand for parking during events.

Auckland Transport understands the importance of trees and the value residents place on them. We will in the first instance look to design around existing trees so they can be retained

single direction cycleway on Meola Road
Caption: An example of a single direction cycleway on Meola Road by Walford Road.

Options for Meola Road

It is possible to build either a single direction cycleway or a bidirectional cycleway along Meola Road. No final decisions had been made on what this could look like and these will be presented to residents during the official consultation in 2019.

bidirectional cycleway on Meola Road
Caption: An example of a bidirectional cycleway on Meola Road by Walford Road.


Community Liaison Groups (CLG)

Auckland Transport established the Point Chevalier Streetscape and Cycleway CLG to provide a focus for two-way communication about the project, between Auckland Transport and Pt Chevalier residents, businesses and other key stakeholders. The CLG contributed to the project’s planning phase by:

  • Ensuring that local organisations or groups with an interest in the project are involved in its development.
  • Ensuring the project accurately reflects community aspirations and delivers established objectives and design principles.
  • Identify and communicate community and stakeholder concerns about the project.
  • Considering the range of community views, interests and issues related to the detailed design and construction of the project.
  • Inter-organisation conversations.

The role of the CLG is consultative and the project team will carefully consider all input from the group in the light of overall strategic objectives for the project, as well as statutory and other government policy requirements.