GetAcross goes to auditor with complaint

The GetAcross lobby group has upped the ante in its bid to open the harbour bridge for cyclists and walkers.

The group has lodged a complaint with the auditor-general over what it calls the New Zealand Transport Agency’s "unprofessional and misleading conduct".

GetAcross spokesman Bevan Woodward says: "We have expected the transport agency as a Crown entity would act honestly and with integrity in its dealing. But unfortunately this has not been the case and here we present compelling material for the auditor-general to launch an inquiry."

The group says the agency relied on a "rough assessment" letter to effectively kill the project despite many prior assurances the bridge was being future-proofed for walking and cycling.

Transport agency media manager Andrew Knackstedt says while the agency supports walking and cycling as a healthy and sustainable mode of transport, the bridge can’t safely accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

"The bridge carries one of the highest traffic loads in the country and it has to be managed intensively in order to maximise its capacity," he says.

"We considered putting further outriggers off the side of the box girders to accommodate cycling and walking, but found that this would have reduced their structural life significantly."

He says the additional weight of cycling and walking lanes would reduce the clip-ons lifespan, require traffic restrictions to be imposed on the bridge, and bring forward the need to build an alternative harbour crossing.

- © Fairfax NZ News