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Among the suggested transport projects for the local board to consider funding in 2023-26 was a raised pedestrian crossing in Laurence Street, between Manly Park and the sailing club.
Auckland Transport (AT) put the suggestion to the Hibiscus & Bays local board at a workshop last month, following requests from the public.
AT’s cost estimate for the work, including design, is $375,000.
Local board chair Gary Brown says eyebrows were raised at the suggestion, partly because of the cost but also because Laurence Street already has seven speed humps along its length. The suggested concrete raised crossing would replace a pedestrian refuge, speed cushions and low speed signs that are already there.
The local board has discretion over where its Transport Capital Fund is spent, and several members spoken to by Hibiscus Matters say this project is unlikely to find favour.
Brown says the crossing is definitely not a priority for the area at the moment.
“There are a lot of other high roading priorities, and we have to spend money wisely as our budget has been substantially cut,” he says. “If we were considering a crossing, putting one on Whangaparāoa Road at Little Manly, across to the beach, would be a far higher priority, as that’s a safety issue.”
There will be a further workshop to discuss how the local board wants to spend its Transport Capital Fund in May/June, with the final decision coming to a June/July business meeting.
