Auckland Regional Office

19 July 2006

Media Release

Exmouth footbridge to close for 18 months to make way for Northern Busway

The Exmouth pedestrian footbridge over the Northern Motorway (SH1) in Shoal Bay will close for 18 months to allow for the ongoing construction of the Northern Busway. As a result, the footbridge will be closed to all pedestrians from 8am on Sunday 23 July and will reopen in December 2007.

The first stage of work will be to widen the bridge on the seaward side across the motorway and new busway (southbound). The second stage of work will take place on the inland side of the bridge to allow for a northbound bus shoulder lane.

Northern Busway Project Director, Clive Fuhr says Transit New Zealand understands the importance of this footbridge for local residents and apologises in advance for the loss of access to the beach at this location. “However, we have no option but to close the footbridge for a period to enable construction on the Northern Busway project to go ahead”.

“Once this is completed the Exmouth overbridge will be reopened and the busway will give the North Shore a world class public transport system, on the Shore itself and across the Harbour Bridge to Auckland City and beyond.”

ENDS

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