The recent opening of the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path’s Section 2 isn’t just a win for Auckland’s infrastructure, it is also an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, and enhance local health and wellbeing.
Also known as Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai (the path of land and sea), the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path is a joint project between Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency that connects Auckland’s eastern suburbs to the CBD. Spanning seven kilometres and split into four construction sections, the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path fills the gap in Auckland’s cycle network.
The shared path is pivotal in that it not only provides better walking and cycling facilities, but also gives locals more links to key destinations, such as Waitematā Harbour, the Ōrākei Basin boardwalk and the Tāmaki Drive Cycle Route – one of the busiest cycle routes to Auckland Central. Dubbed by Waka Kotahi as a piece of world-class walking and cycling infrastructure, the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path ultimately promotes alternatives to car transportation in and around some of Auckland’s most popular suburbs.
According to Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, the path is set to be one of the city’s most popular walking and cycling routes – adding that it also offers wonderful views alongside its functionality. ‘It will be used for commuting, for kids getting to school and will be hugely popular recreationally,’ says the mayor. ‘It’s a key part of a wider network Auckland needs to make cycling and walking a choice for transport by more and more Aucklanders, which will reduce traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and improve health and wellbeing.’
A long time coming
From its inception with the Urban Cycleways Programme under the Key Government, to delivery delays from COVID-19 shutdowns, the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path is no stranger to hurdles. Despite this, the second section of the shared path was completed at the end of May, and connected the already-finished Sections 1 and 3. The new section now completes five kilometres out of the proposed seven kilometres of the shared path – giving commuters a real sense of what the finished product will be like.
The initial plans for the shared path were announced in mid 2014, with Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi originally intending to create a route between Glen Innes and Mechanics Bay, set to be completed in five sections. After stakeholder engagement later that year, Auckland Transport announced that the project would only extend to Tāmaki Drive, and would be completed in four sections, each as a standalone project starting in 2015 and aiming for a 2018 finish. The project fell under the $333-million Urban Cycleways Programme implemented in August 2014 by the former government – with the intention of increasing the cycle network around New Zealand as a means to combat traffic congestion and aid in the fight against climate change.
While the program is now closed, there are some projects that remain under the current government, including the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path. On top of this, delivery time frames have been extended to enable Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport, alongside their delivery partners and councils, time to complete the project. Meanwhile, the project plans have received significant community feedback, which has resulted in alterations to some of the routes.
Location, environment and protection
Section 1 of the shared path runs from Merton Road to St Johns Road and was opened in December 2016 – six months after an intended completion date of mid 2016. In the six years since its opening, Section 1 hosts a weekly average of 800 trips by people both on bike and foot.
Section 3 saw the revamp of the Ōrākei Basin boardwalk, and was completed in August 2019 after almost two years of construction – it took longer than expected due to changes to the initial design following local feedback.
Section 2 runs from St Johns Road to Ōrākei Basin – beginning construction in mid 2020, it is the longest section, spanning 2.65 kilometres. Running from the opposite end of Ōrākei Basin to Tāmaki Drive, Section 4 has been subject funding constraints, but currently has approved funding and lodged consent, and is undergoing detailed design. Its completion date goal is 2023.
The path passes several stations, including Glen Innes Station in Section 1, Ōrākei Station in Section 3 and now Meadowbank Station in Section 2, and is significant to the Eastern Transport Corridor. The environmentally sensitive region alongside the shared path has been subject to much debate, with former Auckland mayor John Banks proposing a major motorway be built through the area back in 2004. This, however, was scrapped after intense public and political concern over the billions of dollars it would take to construct, and the impact it would have on local residents, communities, and flora and fauna. Instead, the new cycleway was put forward – making for a more environmentally friendly Auckland.
As such, planting and restoration are an important part of the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path project. Vegetation that was lost in and around the former construction zone has been replaced with native species to support local native wildlife, and enhance the quality of the surrounding habitat, alongside weed control. Both Auckland Council and mana whenua assisted with the plant selection, resulting in more than five hectares of native shrub, a total of 35,000 native plants (13,000 of which were locally sourced from the Ngāti Whatua Ōrākei iwi nursery) and approximately 368 different species of tree. Some of these chosen native trees include Kohekohe, Kānuka, Tōtara, Pōhutakawa, Tītoki and Nīkau, which have been planted in different sections along the shared path.
Wetland restoration has been completed in the Pourewa Valley – the unique ‘green belt’ corridor and urban forest area that the path passes through – with the aim of adding an additional 50 per cent canopy cover. New planting has also occurred along the path’s edges with natives (such as houpara) in areas alongside the Purewa Cemetery and Tahapa Reserve East.
Constructing Section 2
Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport have each been the lead agencies on different sections of the shared path, with Waka Kotahi implementing the construction of the $55-million Section 2. The division of the sections, and the division of the delivery enables the project to have a roll-on effect – particularly for these last sections – as construction for one section can occur while approvals and consultancy happen for other sections.
This same principle applied during the construction of Section 2, with the single section split into two main areas determined by access requirements. As such, area one runs from St John’s Road to outside Tahapa Reserve East, while area two is from the reserve through to Ōrākei Basin. The work included the building of a new concrete path next to the Meadowbank Pony Club and through Tahapa Reserve East, as well as an upgrade to the existing track, a new 4.8-metre-wide boardwalk and the construction of two bridges.
A cut and fill method was used for the concrete section of the shared path, where the earth is cut and moved to fill in other places, ultimately forming a pathway. This was then smoothed with a stone fill, and covered and compacted by a concrete pour. In other parts of Section 2’s shared path, timber boardwalks were used in three areas – with the longest boardwalk sprawling more than 600 metres through the Pourewa Valley. The above-ground boardwalk here minimises any disturbances to existing vegetation and natural water flow through the valley, while the other two boardwalks in Tahapa Reserve East are due to an overland flow path, and to counteract slope stability issues that would have arisen if a cut and fill method was used.
Complete with LED lighting under the top rail, as well as wooden balustrades up to 1.4 metres high, and glass‑reinforced plastic panels on the wooden decking to provide both slip resistance and durability, the three boardwalks provide cyclists and walkers alike with safety on their travels.
The two bridges both feature black powder-coated steel balusters with wooden handrails, as well as a 1.4-metre-high balustrade for safety. The Rail Bridge runs along the eastern rail line near the Purewa Cemetery, and was constructed to reduce foot traffic in selected areas. In comparison, the Gully Bridge travels downhill across the reserve behind John Rymer Place, and will eventually be screened by the growing natives planted as part of the project’s goal to restore the vegetation.
Alongside this, Section 2’s construction involved connecting the shared path to the existing Section 1 and Section 3. This involved installing cyclist/pedestrian and zebra crossings on some of the surrounding street slip lanes, as well as increasing the size of selected traffic islands. It also involved widening some of the surrounding footpaths, as well as installing bollards and electronic signage to keep pedestrians and cyclists on the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path safe.
For the people
Despite being an incredible piece of infrastructure, the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path is ultimately for the people. The path’s name, Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai, was gifted by mana whenua after the opening of Section 1 in 2016, and the path features an array of cultural artworks by local artists – including carved handrails, motifs and concrete stencils on the path. The design and build of the shared path was created in collaboration with Ngāti Whatua Ōrākei, alongside many other local groups.
‘We’re really proud to see Auckland’s walking and cycling network growing,’ says Harriet Glen, Programme Director – Cycling, Auckland Transport. ‘It’s vital that we continue to deliver safe, active connections like these alongside our public transport projects to give people more options when they travel.
‘The natural beauty and magnificent views along the route will appeal to everyone – whether they are commuting or using the path for fitness and recreation,’ Glen continues. ‘I strongly encourage people from across the city to enjoy it with their friends and whānau.’