$23m Grey Lynn cycleway fix losing business support

Magnitude of the proposed disruption ‘simply too great to withstand’, says association

A$23 million cycleway project for the inner city suburb of Grey Lynn has been dealt a blow after local businesses said it would destroy their livelihoods.

The Grey Lynn Business Association has thanked Auckland Transport for coming up with a new scheme to replace a $4.3m cycleway that failed the community, but withdrawn support in favour of shortterm fixes.

“At this very moment business resilience is so severely constrained and the magnitude of the proposed disruption simply too great to withstand,” association co-chair Irene King said in an email to AT.

She said local opposition was based on the “previous aborted development” continuing to impact on the villages of Grey Lynn, West Lynn and other shopping precincts reliant on parking to attract customers, retailers not being able to withstand another round of protracted road works, and the cost of the project.

“We remain committed to working with you all to develop shorterterm fixes that can facilitate some remedial work”, King said.

Other groups that oppose the 3.3km cycleway project include Occupy Garnet Rd and Business Grey Lynn.

The AT plan involves replacing a one-year-old $4.1m cycleway with a higher-spec cycleway originally costed at up to $35m, but recently reduced to between $17m and $23m.

Much of the new cycleway is just a few hundred metres parallel to another cycleway through Grey Lynn.

AT commissioned urban design consultants Boffa Miskell to revisit

the 3.3km Richmond Rd-Garnet RdOld Mill Rd-Surrey Cres cycleway and established two community liaison groups, whose members have been asked for feedback on the draft plans before public consultation in November.

The latest designs include large

sections of separated cycleway on both sides of the street and high quality urban design and landscaping.

AT issued a brief statement through walking, cycling and road safety senior media adviser Joanna Glasswell. She said AT was assessing

feedback from the two community liaison groups before public consultation in November.

The business association’s feedback is being considered as part of this, and we look forward to getting feedback from the wider community,” Glasswell said.