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Auckland Transport has released designs for a new footbridge to link Matakana Road to Tamahunga Drive.
Construction of the new pedestrian/cycling bridge, on Leigh Road, in Matakana will start next month to avoid disruption to holiday traffic.
The project is a joint venture by Auckland Transport (AT), the Matakana Coast Trail Trust (MCTT) and Rodney Local Board. Construction was initially planned to start in October and finish before Christmas. However, MCTT chair Allison Roe says unrelated roadworks in Matakana and tweaks to the bridge design caused delays.
Ms Roe says the bridge is now fully funded, but she was unable to provide an update on the costs or a breakdown on where the funding was coming from.
Earlier reports put the cost of the project at $580,000, with $250,000 from AT, $150,000 from the Local Board and the remainder to be raised by MCTT.
The bridge will run parallel to the existing road bridge, crossing the Matakana River, and will complete a walkway/cycleway that links with Omaha and Point Wells, which has been built almost entirely by volunteers.
The work is expected to take six to 12 weeks.
Meanwhile, AT has developed designs for a pedestrian bridge on Matakana Road, near the intersection with Tamahunga Drive.
In November, AT released designs for a 45-metre long, 2.5m-wide timber footbridge for consultation.
The bridge is expected to cost $350,000. An AT spokesperson said there was currently no funding for the project and a construction date would be set once funding was available.
AT recorded the number of pedestrians and cyclists who used a temporary bridge during Labour Weekend, after the Local Board raised concerns about people walking on the road to get from the Tamahunga Drive subdivision to the township.
Installed cameras recorded 365 pedestrians and cyclists, including 124 adult pedestrians, 21 adult and child pedestrians, 15 unaccompanied children and teenagers, 19 elderly pedestrians and 186 cyclists. AT says no serious safety issues were identified during the three days of video coverage.
