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Auckland Transport has confirmed that plans are underway to build a much-needed footbridge in Wellsford next July.
Rodney Local Board member for Wellsford Colin Smith says all it took to get the project off the ground was 12 years of campaigning, an $80,000 Greenways Plan and for the community to raise $1.4 million through a targeted rate.
Earlier this year it was revealed at a meeting in Wellsford, with representatives of the Local Board, AT and KiwiRail, that the project had been delayed because of the difficulty in getting permission for site access from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and KiwiRail.
AT spokesperson Mark Hannan says AT has now “discussed options” with both agencies and the Rodney Local Board.
He says AT is “undertaking investigation and design” for both a pedestrian bridge over the rail line as well as a footpath on the eastern side of Rodney Street, to connect Wellsford Town with Centennial Park.
Mr Smith says that it has been like having two parks on either side of a race track and expecting children to cross.
“We have 30,000 car movements each year going straight through the guts of Wellsford and when the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway opens, it will be even worse,” he says.
He hopes that NZTA and KiwiRail will contribute funds towards the project since both agencies are currently working on upgrades around the road and bridge.
However, he says assistance so far has not been forthcoming.
Earlier this year, Local Board deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke said she had hoped the agencies might contribute, but the Board had raised the full amount needed for the project to ensure a good result for the town of Wellsford, which had often been overlooked.
Mr Smith says that the project has been a long time coming, but he is still pleased a date has been put in writing.
“At least 2022 is a hope of it happening.”
