The Northern Pathway will change the way people cross Auckland's Waitematā Harbour

Northern Pathway - Westhaven to Akoranga Project

Kia ora,

The Northern Pathway will form a critical and transformational part of Auckland’s walking and cycling network. It will be a seamless, dedicated walking and cycling link between central Auckland and the North Shore, connecting with existing local paths to extend the region’s walking and cycling network.

We want to keep you regularly updated as this city-shaping project progresses.

Project history

A walking and cycling link across the Waitematā Harbour has been supported by Aucklanders and in development for many years, with 78% of respondents from the April 2020 public consultation in support of the project.

In 2020, Waka Kotahi appointed an alliance to review the proposed design and deliver the project. The programme review concluded that an independent bridge alongside the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge would best meet the future demands of bridge users and preserve the structural integrity of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

In June 2021, the Government announced that as part of the revised New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the Northern Pathway would proceed as a separate pathway for walking and cycling connecting to Akoranga, aligning with the Government's priority to create more active transport choices for Aucklanders and meet climate change objectives.

Northern Pathway team

Over the past nine months, a dedicated team has been reviewing the programme and investigating several short and long-term solutions for the Westhaven to Akoranga section of the Northern Pathway.

The team consists of representatives from Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction, Aurecon, McConnell Dowell and Freyssinet, who all have experience working on the design and delivery of complex steel and concrete bridge projects.

Now that the new design has been endorsed by the Government, the next step is to develop the design, which we will share with you in the coming months.

We know there is a  high level of interest in this project and we are excited by the opportunity to transform how people on both sides of the harbour get to work and study, connect with family and friends and access services.

Connecting our cycleways

The Northern Pathway will be an iconic piece of infrastructure for Auckland and create a world class link for people to travel across the harbour on foot and on bikes for generations to come.
As well as enhancing the the region’s walking and cycling network, the Northern Pathway will provide:

• Growth in the number of people who will walk and cycle over the harbour in the coming decades.
• Protection of the existing bridge which is a key part of Auckland and New Zealand’s strategic transport network.
• A safe and enjoyable walk or ride with a wide deck and places for people to stop and enjoy views of the harbour.
• Enhanced network resilience for all users crossing the Waitematā Harbour.
• A strategic missing link that unlocks investment already made and planned for in the Auckland walking and cycling network.
• Access to one of the world’s great harbours as well as health and wellbeing benefits.
• A dedicated 24/7 cross-harbour connection to meet the needs of current and future users.
• Economic, environmental, social, tourism and cultural benefits for Aotearoa.
• More than 175 jobs in the infrastructure industry during its construction.

Working with iwi, stakeholders and the community

We’ve been working closely with local iwi partners to understand the cultural values that are important to iwi in the area and ensure these are fundamental in the decision-making processes.

Our engagement with partners, stakeholders and the community will continue throughout the development and delivery of the project.

Next steps

We will keep you informed as we continue to develop the design which will confirm the new bridge’s structural and architectural form and features to support a great user experience.

We are aiming to start the process to secure approvals late in 2021, using the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act. This will provide certainty and an accelerated process for obtaining final consents
and designations.

It is expected to take about four to five years to complete the pathway; this includes time for design, consenting and approvals, procurement of materials and construction.