NZTA is ‘failing the region’

Cyclists are accusing the New Zealand Transport Agency of failing to remember the ‘‘pennypinching’’ of the Auckland Harbour Bridge while designing the new link between Manawatu¯ and Hawke’s Bay.

But a group lobbying the agency for a dedicated off-road cycleway has been blindsided by news plans are already afoot for a recreational cycleway across the Ruahine Range.

Lobby group Build the Path pleaded its case to Horizons Regional Council’s regional transport committee, and agency regional relationships director Emma Speight, who was there to update the committee on projects, yesterday.

The current design for the new highway, which will replace the closed Manawatu¯ Gorge, is a fourlane road with half a lane on each side.

It does not feature a dedicated cycleway like what the Ka¯piti Expressway has.

Brent Barrett, who is also a Palmerston North City councillor, told the committee the cycleway had to be part of the highway build from the start.

The agency may be saying it could come later, but ‘‘later is agency speak for never’’, he said.

Even if it was built later, it would be far more expensive, with the Auckland Harbour Bridge cycleway a perfect example.

‘‘Here we are in 2018, and the transport agency is risking a repeat of 1959 [when the bridge construction was finished] here on our doorstep ... and failing our region.

‘‘We are gobsmacked the NZTA haven’t committed to a separated path at the outset.’’

The half-lane would not be as well used as a separated cycleway, he said.

The Waikato Expressway had a half-lane, but no-one cycled on it because it was too dangerous, he said.

But the Ka¯ piti cycleway was getting more users than expected.

A dedicated cycleway would benefit everyone, he said.

‘‘Motorists want cyclists off the road, and cyclists want to be out of harm’s way.

‘‘A safe, separated shared path is the only way to make it happen.’’

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon asked Barrett if he had seen a proposed cycleway the Te A¯ pitimanawatu¯ Gorge Governance Group had come up with, linking the eastern and western sides of the gorge.

Barrett had not.

The plan was only signed off by the group on Monday, and a copy was not provided when the Standard requested one.

Speight said the agency would create more detailed designs as the process went on.