By KEVIN TAYLOR
The Government has ordered a study into a cycleway and walkway across the Auckland Harbour Bridge - but Transit has raised concerns that it already carries too much load.
Auckland businessman and multisport athlete Graeme Knowles yesterday presented a 5813 signature petition to Parliament's transport and industrial relations committee calling for the study. Transport Minister Pete Hodgson told committee chairman Mark Gosche in a letter that because of the interest from local people he had asked Transit to consider the issue and advise him on options.
Transit chief executive Rick van Barneveld, who attended the committee hearing on the petition, confirmed a feasibility study would be undertaken.
He said previous feasibility work had been done but the issue of benefits from the likely cost - which have previously been put at $20 million or more - had to be assessed.
The study could take 12 months, he said.
Transit's Auckland regional manager, Wayne McDonald, said the proposal would be "marginal" from an engineering viewpoint because of existing and proposed loadings on the structure.
Extra loads had already been imposed on the structure since the last study was done, and Transpower had applied to string power cables across it. "So there's very little capacity left in the existing bridge. It's just a straight loading issue on an old structure."
Mr Knowles said he was pleased the Government had moved so quickly on the petition's call for a study. He was confident a cycle and walkway would eventually be built on the bridge.
He said 155,000 vehicles used the bridge daily, and a cycle and walkway gave the public another choice.
It also had potential to attract tourists.
Aucklanders had never been able to walk or cycle over the harbour despite the presence of New Zealand's biggest bridge, Mr Knowles told the committee.
Arguments the 45-year-old bridge was too long, too steep and too windy were based on "biased speculation".
The petitioners' preference was for a road-level cycle and walkway.
He pointed out that other bridges around the world provided for cyclists and pedestrians, including Sydney's harbour bridge.
The Labour MP for Northcote, Ann Hartley, has supported Mr Knowles' petition.
She said the idea was consistent with the Government's transport policy, which promoted cycling and walking.
Looking abroad
Other bridges with cycle/walkways:
* Sydney Harbour Bridge
* Golden Gate Bridge
* Brooklyn Bridge
* Manhattan Bridge
Source: Submission of Graeme Knowles and others.
Herald Feature: Getting Auckland moving
Related information and links
Government eyes Harbour Bridge cycle and walkway
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