Waka Kotahi has confirmed it will not be trialling a walking and cycling path on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Photo: Unsplash / Daniel Wang
The agency had decided to hold a $700,000 event for one day - scheduled for November - in place of an actual trial of cycling and walking lanes, which was asked for by the transport minister.
But Movement threatened to ask for a judicial review if the agency did not reconsider its position.
In a statement today on the reconsideration, Waka Kotahi Board chair Sir Brian Roche confirmed there would be no trial "due to the significant health and safety issues".
"The risks for people walking and cycling on the structure cannot be mitigated to the level where we can be confident that it is an activity which can be managed safely on a permanent basis.
"The most recent safety assessment, undertaken by Waka Kotahi this year, identified a number of safety risks which would be created by the permanent reallocation of lanes for walking and cycling on the bridge.
"Waka Kotahi has undertaken a detailed analysis of all of the evidence available, and having considered that analysis, the Board has determined that a trial of lane reallocation on a permanent basis would not be appropriate at this time."
However, the transport agency said it would still plan for opportunities to allow Aucklanders to walk or cycle over the bridge "in a safely controlled environment" as part of a series of single day events this summer.
The agency was also working with its partners - Auckland Council and Auckland Transport - on projects to encourage more people to use active transport, Sir Brian said.
"Waka Kotahi is strongly committed to providing a safe network for walking and cycling in the Auckland region, integrated with public transport, to support a shift to active and shared modes with better climate outcomes."
