Cyclists and walkers can look forward to another spectacular new bridge over Auckland's motorway network, this time in Owairaka as part of the $1.4 billion Waterview Connection project.
Just days after opening its shared-use "Lightpath" high above Spaghetti Junction last week to connect with Auckland Transport's new protected cycleway down Nelson St, the Government's Transport Agency has installed a 110-tonne arch on a sweeping footbridge it is building over its motorway extension through Owairaka to Waterview.
Although the Waterview Connection's main features are a pair of three lane vehicle tunnels from Alan Wood Park to Waterview, those account for just half of a 4.8km traffic link between the Southwestern and Northwestern motorways.
The 300-metre bridge is being built over a surface section on the link, to connect the two communities of New Windsor and Owairaka at Hendon Ave.
It will also provide a connection between Owairaka and new sportsfields being developed off Valonia St, as well as a cycleway and footpath to be built for $22.5 million over the Waterview tunnels and above Oakley Creek in a joint venture with Auckland Council, as a condition of the agency's resource consent for the motorway project.
