The New Zealand government is investing US$228 million in the first section of the Northern Pathway over the Waitemata Harbour between Westhaven and Akoranga.

The two shortlisted teams are Fulton Hogan/HEB/Aurecon/Freyssinet and McConnell Dowell/Arup/Rizzani de Eccher.

The walking and cycling link over the Auckland Harbour Bridge will be built as a continuous path at vehicle deck level. The preferred option is a 5m-wide pathway, built on new separate trestle legs and pier brackets, attached to the existing concrete piers on the eastern (southbound) side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The pathway will be separated from the Auckland Harbour Bridge’s existing southbound extension bridge (known as the southbound clip-on) to allow access for maintenance.

Auckland Harbour Bridge shared pathway

Transport Agency senior manager project delivery Andy Thackwray said: “Both teams consist of a combination of designers and contractors with experience working on the design and delivery of complex steel girder and concrete bridge projects.

Auckland Harbour Bridge shared pathway“We’re very excited by what we have seen so far from the two teams. They bring New Zealand and international experience which is just what we need for a project of this scale and complexity.”

The two teams are competing to be selected as the preferred partner to work in an alliance with the Transport Agency on the detailed design and construction of the path between Westhaven and Akoranga.

The preferred team will be announced later in the year with construction expected to start in 2021 and take two and a half years.

“Early contractor involvement while undertaking the design will help us move forward quickly with this project, as the design can be developed with input from the construction team to ensure the best option is designed, and then built,” said Thackwray.