Central Leader: 800m cycleway costs $2.6m

Elected officials are backing a plan to build cyclists a $2.6 million shortcut.The 800-metre link would be between Great South Rd and Hugo Johnston Drive, at the end of the Waikaraka cycleway and walkway. Rough estimates put the cost at $3250 a metre. The extension will save cyclists a 2.5km trip along industrial roads. “The cycleway that ends up in Hugo Johnson Drive doesn’t take a cyclist anywhere, so it has to be carried on,” Maungakiekie Community Board member Barbara Insull says.

“It’ll be a really nice, beautiful ride along land most people don’t get to see.”

Ms Insull says the 800-metre path will also give the public better access to Hamlins Hill and the coastal area at Anns Creek.

“It’s doing a whole lot of things, it’s not just a cycleway,” she says.

The existing 5km walkway and cycleway along the Manukau Harbour from Pikes Pt to Onehunga cost $3m to construct.

A $40,000 feasibility study into extending the path between Hugo Johnson Drive and Great South Rd was funded by the Maungakiekie and Tamaki community boards.

Auckland City Council officers considered two options before recommending the shortest and most expensive route.

It would cross the main North Island railway line and an area which Ontrack may use for rail in future.

Council transport planner Ina Stenzel said it also crosses contaminated land and a coastal protection area near Anns Creek.

“The whole area is contaminated with landfill and also is known to have some asbestos as well,” she says.

The other option, a 1.5km route mostly using existing roads, is estimated to cost $1.3m. Ms Stenzel says the costs are rough estimates and could vary by 100 percent.

Council can apply for a subsidy of up to half the cost from Land Transport New Zealand.

Maungakiekie Community Board last Thursday decided to support detailed design work for the $2.6m route.

Tamaki Community Board is due to consider the results of the feasibility study on August 28.