A few months ago the government announced it would contribute $200 million towards level crossing removal in Takanini and at a few stations so that the Southern and Eastern lines north of Papakura would be fully grade separated. This enables us to make better use of the City Rail Link in the future.
I am announcing today that, subject to final approval by the NZTA board, the Government will be allocating funding for its share of the cost of accelerating the grade-separation of 7 level crossings in Takāanini and Glen Innes.
The work will involve building three new grade-separated road bridges at Manuia Road, Taka Street, and Walters Road; constructing new station access bridges at Glen Innes, Te Mahia and Takāanini Stations, and closing two unsafe crossings at Spartan Road and Manuroa Road.
It is going to take some time to build the new road crossings but Auckland Transport is getting on the three stations on the list and have kicked off consultation on their plans to do so.
Three Auckland train stations where there have been dozens of near misses between pedestrians and trains during the past decade will have their pedestrian level crossings replaced by modern, accessible overbridges, Auckland Transport (AT) says.
New pedestrian overbridges at Glen Innes, Takaanini and Te Mahia stations will improve safety and support more frequent and reliable train services when the City Rail Link opens.
The Government and Auckland Council have brought forward funding to allow construction of the three pedestrian bridges to be fast-tracked, with work starting at Labour Weekend when the rail network is closed and continuing during the summer rail closure.
From this week, AT is asking for feedback on the proposed bridge designs for Glen Innes, Takaanini and Te Mahia stations.
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The designs for the three bridges have been developed to provide good access to the train stations, improve pedestrian safety, and to deliver value for money for ratepayers.
“We now want to hear feedback from our passengers and local communities about what the designs will mean for access, connection, and safety,” Mr Burt says.
This feedback will be used to finalise the bridge designs and to help with AT’s plans to integrate the bridges and station access into the wider neighbourhoods nearby.
Let's take a look at what's proposed.
Glen Innes
Of the three stations, Glen Innes is the one I have the most concern about simply because it has the most potential for making accessing the station harder.
The station currently has two level crossings, one at each end of the platform, as well as an underpass with links in two directions - it would be interesting to know how many use that underpass compared the level crossings.
The plan is to build a new pedestrian bridge from Apriana Ave to the station.
The new bridge will be fully accessible; meaning it is able to be used by parents with prams, cyclists and wheelchairs. It is proposed to be located between the current carpark areas to maintain connectivity into Glen Innes Town Centre and minimise disruption.
There are currently two crossings that require people to walk directly on the rail tracks. They will be permanently closed and replaced with this new, safer, accessible pedestrian bridge.
Access to the station via the current Merton Road walkway will be removed, with people coming from that direction needing to walk along Apirana Avenue to the new pedestrian bridge – about an extra one to two minutes.
We will be making it easier to walk this way by improving the shared path along Merton Road through the Links to GI project. This work will be done by the end of 2025.
The existing underpass access to the rail station platform, located at the northern end of the station, will still be available to use.
Adding a few minutes to journeys might not seem like a lot but we've see at other stations in the past, when station access is made easier or harder, even bit a little bit, it can have an impact on usage. Though having more services thanks to the CRL will certainly help make rail more attractive.
I get the desire for bridges from AT compared to underpasses, they're less disruptive to build and likely cheaper but they can also have downsides, such as the need to get up and over the wires meaning passengers have to go further, and that's enhanced here given Apirana Ave sits lower than the tracks. Lifts also have a tendency to be unreliable and when they stop working, which happens a lot, it cuts off accessible travel.
On lifts, it's interesting they note "Lift design standards and rigorous maintenance will ensure reliability"
Te Mahia
Te Mahia is currently only accessed via level crossings and the proposed bridge will replace them will also make use of the recently build barren plaza linking the station to Gt South Rd.
It looks like AT have only allowed for a third track through here which seems shortsighted given the current 30-year plan is to have at least 4 tracks on this section.
Takaanini
In order to add a bridge at Takaanini, AT will need to remove 19 carparks from the park and ride but the rest will remain unchanged.
Like with Te Mahia, AT are only allowing for one additional track though this area. It does appear they are adding bike ramps to the stairs which is good.
Is it too much to ask for a little shelter on these bridges (and others around the network), not to mention on the platforms, if nothing else to reduce the risk of being poked in the eye by an umbrella while following someone on a rainy day.
Consultation for these bridges is open till 30-May and all are linked from here.
Given there are a number of stations on the Western line that will also need similar treatment it would be interesting to know how much these three bridges are costing.