Massey Link: Connecting the Community
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Submissions closed Thursday 23 August 2007. |
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Background Information
When Massey was planned in the 1960s through to the 1980s, the thinking then
was based on the American model of car-based development. Therefore Massey
became a dormitory suburb linked by motorway to Auckland, which divided the
suburb. Little thought was given as to how the Massey community would have
access to sites such as Moire Park, Westgate, the Community Centre, Library and
schools.
As well, there is a concern that pedestrians are crossing the motorway illegally
and this resulted in a death in 2005. That has prompted a comprehensive look at
the best and safest ways to get local people around their neighbourhood. Various
options are outlined in this brochure and Council have sought your feedback.
Please note that submissions closed Thursday 23 August 2007.
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Massey Link Information
Brochure (Size 3521K)
Who Pays?
Land Transport NZ has agreed to a 50/50 Transit/Council cost share funding
for the investigation phase of various transport projects in your community. If
a bridge is warranted and approved by both parties, Transit considers its
contribution towards the design and construction costs is $350,000 (as at
September 2006), and additional costs would be borne by the Council. If the
council proposes any other cost share, this has to be agreed with Land Transport
NZ.
Timeline
Once a preferred option has been established, there will need to be separate
consultation with ratepayers on the cost and affordability. The consultation
would take place either in February 2008 as part of the Draft 2008/2009 Annual
Plan budget, or in February 2009 as part of the Draft 2009-2019 Long Term
Council Community Plan. Depending upon the preferred option, the construction
period could be from one to three years.
The Options
Option 1: Standard Fencing
Do what?
Erect a 2 metre high, wire mesh and galvanised tubular steel post fencing,
installed on the western side only, around the culvert (the eastern side already
has security fencing around the culvert).
What's hot!
Would help deter pedestrians crossing the North Western Motorway.
Does not require any land purchase or public consultation.
What's not!
Will not completely prevent people crossing the motorway, as it only covers the
area around the western culvert.
Will not reduce travel time for pedestrians.
Vandalism is prevalent in this area and any fencing may be targeted.
What's the cost?
The total cost for this option is estimated at $94,500.
Option 2: High Security Fencing
Do what?
A minimum 2 metre high, 200 metre long fence installed on both sides of the
highway. The fence line would extend about 200 metres south (from the corner of
the Westgate Shopping Centre carpark).
What's hot!
Directly addresses the current problem by blocking the entrance to the culvert
and fencing off both sides of the motorway, forcing pedestrians to use the safer
pedestrian crossing at the Hobsonville Road intersection.
Fence type is vandal resistant and difficult to climb over.
Does not require any land purchase or public consultation.
What's not!
The disadvantage is that it will not improve the travel time for pedestrians or
cyclists currently using the existing pedestrian facility at Hobsonville Road
intersection.
What's the cost?
The total cost for this option is estimated at $189,375.
Option 3: Cycleway to Hobsonville Road
Do what?
A 3 metre-wide walk and cycleway along the proposed city-bound on-ramp,
separated by a motorway fence, as outlined in Option 2, with a retaining wall
and boundary fence, connecting to a boardwalk that links with Oriel Ave,
opposite the southern end of St Catherine Cres.
What's hot!
Provides a safer passage for pedestrians and cyclists.
More direct route - avoids the need to travel eastward, away from the shopping
centre, which is believed to be a barrier to travelling along Oriel Ave.
Encourages pedestrians to use the existing signalised intersection at
Hobsonville Rd, as well as separating them from the North Western Motorway,
improving connectivity and reducing the journey distance by 50 metres.
A boardwalk bridge provides a more gradual slope connection to Oriel Ave.
Could take place with, or in advance of, the proposed Hobsonville pedestrian and
cyclist improvements for the Hobsonville Rd/North Western Motorway intersection.
What's not!
Might have a detrimental effect in terms of security to the rear of some local
properties.
What's the cost?
The total cost for this option is estimated at just over $2 million.
Option 4: Pedestrian Footbridge
Do what?
A pedestrian footbridge over the North Western Motorway, directly connecting
Westgate Shopping Centre to Oriel Ave.
What's hot!
Allows for direct access over SH16, providing pedestrians an alternative route
that is safer than taking a short-cut via the culvert or motorway; also quicker
than crossing at the Hobsonville Rd intersection.
Encourages walking and cycling.
Links to the car park at the south eastern corner of the Westgate Centre.
Opportunity to provide a connection to the new Westgate Wetland.
There is also an opportunity to combine this project with the Upper Harbour
Corridor Project. There would be significant saving resulting from combining the
two projects, with an estimated cost saving of $400,000.
What's not!
An expensive option (even without the wetland connection).
Reduced privacy with the bridge approaches overlooking the rear of adjacent
properties and possibly interrupting the horizon views.
Security is also a concern although this could be reduced by the erection of
video cameras.
The visual impact.
What's the cost?
The total standalone cost for this option is estimated at $2.08 million.
Option 5: Alternate Footbridge
Do what?
A pedestrian footbridge over the motorway, connecting Westgate Shopping Centre
to Oriel Avenue. While this option provides a more direct route, it could
involve the purchase of one residential property on Oriel Road.
What's hot!
The benefits are the same as Option 4.
What's not!
Land purchase costs
Visual intrusion on adjacent properties.
May not be close enough to the preferred pedestrian route and as a result the
culvert may remain a desirable route.
The visual impact.
What's the cost?
The total cost for this option is estimated at $3.38 million.
Option 6: Road bridge from Oriel Ave to Westgate Drive
Do what?
A road bridge linking Oriel Avenue to Westgate Drive.
What's hot!
Provides an effective link between the two parts of the Massey community that
have been divided by the motorway.
Has merit in the longer term to provide an effective transport linkage.
The council has indicated in its submissions to the Local Government Act
(Auckland provisions), that in the long term it will provide this linkage once
it is justified in terms of a quadruple bottom line assessment (social,
financial, environmental and cultural effects).
What's not!
The high cost.
It may not be located in the desired path for pedestrians, so that pedestrians
are likely to continue to take the shortest possible route.
Does not address pedestrian safety issues.
What's the cost?
As only preliminary planning has been done for this option it is only possible
to provide an indicative cost, estimated at $10M to $15M.
Feedback Form
Submissions closed Thursday 23 August 2007.
For more information please phone Kitch Cuthbert (09) 836 8000 extn 8526 or
Sue Liddell (09) 836 8000 extn 8736.
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