Twice as many Hibiscus Coast residents support a proposed Weiti River crossing as oppose it, according to survey results issued yesterday by the Rodney District Council.
The random survey of 705 residents and 132 businesses found that a third felt the Weiti bridge should be built as soon as possible.
But a tenth of that support fell away after the cost implications were explained to respondents, especially that a toll of $1.50 would apply.
The proposal for a road and bridge to give alternative access to the Whangaparaoa Peninsula has been debated strongly for four years.
The council's commissioner, Grant Kirby, ordered the $50,000 survey to guide a new council on whether to proceed with the project.
A council will not take office until after elections next March 31. Meanwhile, Mr Kirby is keeping the PenLink project simmering by seeking resource consents from the Auckland Regional Council.
A decision on the consents is expected in a few weeks.
Yesterday, the commissioner also received a petition organised by Business Whangaparaoa and signed by 4500 people in support of the bridge.
The survey by consultants R Cubed found that residents mostly supported or opposed the project based on how cost-effective they thought it would be.
Business support hinged on a view that it would provide a long-term solution to congestion.
About 20 per cent of residents and 14 per cent of businesses strongly opposed PenLink.
But at Stillwater, which will bear the brunt of road and bridge works, half the residents were strongly opposed and a quarter strongly supported the project.
The survey found that people mostly wanted better public transport and the Weiti Crossing, and a bridge was much preferred to widening Whangaparaoa Rd.
Survey backs Weiti bridge
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