Auckland cyclists are experiencing a bumpy ride on a new $14.4 million cycleway along Tamaki Drive.
After being deluged with complaints, Bike Auckland chairwoman Barb Cuthbert rode the new cycleway on her e-bike at a
decent speed today and felt it had an uneven surface.
"I don't think it's a crisis, but it should be repairable, and it needs to be repaired because it's a new build and deserves a better finish," she said, adding the new surface was being used by cyclists and people on e-scooters in droves.
"It could be better," said Cuthbert, who called Tamaki Drive the city's "premier" cycling route which averages more than 1500 trips a day.
Work on the cycleway from the end of Quay St to Ngapipi Rd on the seaward side began in February last year. The two-way separated cycleway will also connect with cycle routes to Glen Innes and Parnell.
The $14.4m project also involves raising a section of Tamaki Drive by half a metre to protect against seasonal flooding from king tides that sometimes forces the road to close.
![The new cycleway along Tamaki Drive. Photo / Michael Craig](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/AWXEWW4T2XGVJ4HSZA6S6KJEUQ.jpg?auth=4fb2b1c90cb8f53f4924bbb8906c1a52576a62005648f896855ed5e7d330d520&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
One cyclist told the Herald the cycleway had been very poorly laid and is extremely bumpy, saying AT had admitted there are problems with the quality of the work and the contractor has agreed to remedy some of the tarmac.
"In contrast, the recently laid section of road at Tamaki Yacht Club is of a very high quality. It would appear that cyclists are getting short-changed with a low-quality product by the contractor. Possibly Auckland Transport is doing a poor job of administering public money in this contract," the cyclist said.
Cuthbert said she flagged the problems with AT last week and they are meeting Bike Auckland's technical group for a walkover this week to see what can be done.