A bike ride around the inner west and the inner east
A look at the progress of developments and projects in the inner western and inner eastern suburbs of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Over the last few months, there have been developments and projects taking shape in the inner western and eastern suburbs of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. I had the opportunity to watch the progress of some of these developments and projects as they got closer to completion during my many bike rides. Today, we’ll be going to have a detailed look at these developments and projects currently under construction or due to start construction soon.
We start on Carrington Rd in Mt Albert to get an update on the progress of the Carrington (UNITEC) housing development: a large-scale housing development currently under construction that will deliver up to 4,000 homes when fully completed. Construction of Toi, which will deliver 65 homes when completed, is emerging with walls up on the ground floor. Works are also continuing to construct the infrastructure to help support the future stages of the development, which consists of roads, raised crossings, and cycleways.
We head across the Northwestern Motorway for an update on the Kāinga Ora development on the corner of the Point Chevalier and Great North Rd, where the finishing touches are being added, adding 61 new apartments for residents on the social housing waitlist over the age of 55.
At the front of the Kāinga Ora development, works are underway on the Point Chevalier to Westmere Improvements project. These improvements include cycleways, raised crossings, footpath improvements, bus stop upgrades, stormwater improvements and landscaping. We start on Point Chevalier Road, between Great North Rd and Meola Rd. Where parts of the cycleways and some raised crossings on side streets are completed, with bus shelters starting to be installed.
We get an update on the rebuilding of Meola Rd: Where parts of the road, footpaths and bidirectional cycleway are completed, with some of the raised crossings and bus stop improvements being completed as well.
On Garnet Rd, works have begun on the cycleway between Meola and West End Rd with raised crossings on side streets, and part of the cycleways around the intersection and bus stops are completed.
It’s great to see this project taking shape to allow for safer journeys to local shops, Western Springs Park, MOTAT, and schools by walking, bike or scooter. The whole project is projected to be completed in mid-2025. We take a small stop for an update on the construction of the Exibhit apartments on Jervois Rd in Herne Bay, which will deliver 6 homes.
We head east via the cycleways along Quay St, Tāmaki Dr and Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai to the site of Ockham’s second residential development to be built in Meadowbank: Station M. The development will be located on the doorstep of frequent trains at Meadowbank Station and a safe cycling route to the city centre and to Glen Innes with Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai. Construction of the development is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2025, delivering 14 homes.
Following that, we go to Meadowbank Villiage, where the developments of Risland Meadowbank (delivering 90 homes) on Meadowbank Rd and Summerset St Johns rest home on St Johns Rd (which will be home to approx 400 residents) are getting closer to completion. These developments are located close to shops and bus stops for the 75.
We now look at the progress of the Links to Glen Innes cycleway project. We start at Morrin Rd, where works are ongoing for a bidirectional cycleway between Merton Rd and Stonefields Ave, which will connect Stonefields to Glen Innes Town Centre and Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai.
At Apirana Ave, the bidirectional cycleway between Merton Rd and Taniwha St and upgrades to the two existing crossings in front of Glen Innes Train Station have been completed.
Based on the photos below, Construction has begun on the cycleway on Taniwha St between Apirana Ave and Line Rd, which will connect to the completed cycleway on Taniwha St between Line and West Tāmaki Road.
Finally on Point England Rd, the “Tim Tam” cycle separators have been installed on the cycleway between Line Rd and Pilkington Rd.
As we conclude the bike ride, It’s great to see more of the cycleways as part of the Links to Glen Innes project being completed. It will be great to see the remaining cycleways being built and completed to form a fully connected cycle network to Glen Innes Town Centre and connect to Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai.