MEDIA RELEASE

12 August 2016 | AUCKLAND & NORTHLAND

Mangere school children the first to ride new shared path as part of SH20A to Airport project

School children from Mangere Central School and the local Mangere bike club and have been the first to ride on part of a new shared path being built by the NZ Transport Agency as part of the State Highway 20A to Airport project.

The first 500 metre section of the new path, which replaces an existing pedestrian walkway, has been officially opened today.

Students at Mangere Central School who’ve been watching the State Highway 20A to Airport project take shape around their school were a key part of the celebrations.

“These students are some of the project’s closest neighbours, many have been navigating around the project as they’ve travelled to and from school for the past year and we really wanted to give them this opportunity to see the progress we’re making and thank them for all their patience,” says Brett Gliddon the Transport Agency’s Auckland Highway Manager.

“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. This will make it safer for all those travelling to and from the airport.”

Eight of the children have already been working closely with the Agency as part of a project initiative that mirrors the MHX Kirkbride Alliance Management team. The students have taken on roles including Construction Manager and Environmental Manager.

Before they put their feet to the pedal the children had a bike safety, skills and awareness session with local bike champ Teau Aiturau, affectionately known as Mr Tee.

Mr Tee grew up in Mangere and is determined to make it easier for people who want to cycle but can’t afford a bike. As well as giving away bikes to children in the neighbourhood who want to ride he provides a helmet and bike skills.

“The flat geography of Mangere makes it a great place to bike and creating shared paths like this one at Kirkbride will encourage more local kids and their families to bike or walk which means they have more money for other things.”

The remaining 2km of the shared path is still under construction and is scheduled to be opened when the highway project is completed in mid-2017. Local cycling and pedestrian connections will also be improved with shared paths across SH20A at Kirkbride Road.

The entire path will run from Williams Park (which connects to Bader Drive) to Landing Drive at Auckland Airport and connects with a major walking and cycling loop around the Mangere town centre which will open in September. Te Ara Mua – Mangere Future Streets, is a collaboration between the Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board. It comprises shared walking and cycling paths, protected cycle lanes and other traffic calming measures to make it easier and safer for local people to walk and cycle.

The State Highway 20A to Airport project is upgrading the highway to a motorway with a new interchange at Kirkbride Road to separate highway and local traffic to provide a safer, more reliable route to and from the airport, as well as increasing freight efficiency.

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