Pathway’s first stage opens in Mangere
Safely crossing a busy road can be challenge in itself, even more so if that road is part of Auckland’s motorway network.
But that task will be made safer in the near future with the first part of a shared pathway opening next to State Highway 20A in Mangere, south Auckland.
The 500 metre pathway, built by the NZ Transport Agency, was opened by Mangere Central School students and the local bike club on August 12.
Mangere bike champ Teau Aiturau, known as Mr Tee, was at the opening along with the children.
‘‘You can tell they’re having fun,’’ he says. ‘‘It gives us more opportunities to go riding and get on it.’’
The new shared pathway replaces an older footpath which Mr Tee says will make it safer for the community.
‘‘It wasn’t much of a lane, but now they’ve widened it up and it looks a lot better. I’m really grateful they’ve put it in.’’
It all fits in with Mr Tee’s mission to make Mangere the biking capital of the South Pacific.
He is determined to help families get kids onto their bikes, often giving away bikes to children in the neighbourhood along with a helmet and biking skills.
NZTA’s Auckland Highway manager Brett Gliddon says the students are the project’s closest neighbours and have
‘‘They’ll also be among the biggest group to benefit from relocating cyclists and pedestrians from the existing state highway onto the separated shared path alongside the motorway,’’ he says
The shared pathway is part of NZTA’s State Highway 20A to Airport project which will improve travel times to the airport. Work is ongoing with digging out the the Mangere Town Centre.
There will also be a shared pathway on Kirkbride road that will cross over the top of SH20A. That work is expected to be finished by mid next year.
Go to manukaucourier.co.nz to see photos and a video of the pathway opening.