SkyPath delayed

Engineering issues are being cited as reasons for delaying the Auckland Harbour Bridge SkyPath cycleway and walking path initially expected to be ready by now.

The Waitemata Harbour crossing is expected to be hugely popular with e-bike and e-scooter riders travelling between Auckland’s North Shore and central city.

“People riding electric bikes are now riding a long way and they want to get across the harbour,” Bike Auckland chair Barb Cuthbert told Newshub, saying the issue relates to piers which support the bridge.

She suggests using one of the existing lanes for bikes in the meantime.

Cuthbert says she’s heard from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport there is a technical issue to do with how the pathway is supported.

The SkyPath forms part of the $360 million Northern Pathway project with $240m for the bridge and $120m for pathway extensions to the Akoranga bus station near Northcote.

Transport minister Michael Wood says SkyPath has been delayed due to damage to the bridge which highlighted the need to get its engineering right, Newshub says.

An alliance was formed in September to provide SkyPath and is working on the design, it adds.

NZTA transport services general manager Brett Gliddon says more information will be available after the alliance has revised the project.

He expects weight restrictions may eventually be needed on the bridge to cope with heavy traffic.