Daily commutes will take a skyward turn for users of three Auckland train stations, with “modern” pedestrian overbridges planned to replace existing level crossings.
Auckland Transport has opened consultation on the designs for new overbridges at Glen Innes, Takanini and Te Mahia stations.
The change would mean that passengers could no longer cross the tracks at ground level and would have to either use stairs or elevators to access the stations.
Construction would begin on the three bridges in October and continue through the summer rail shutdown in December, according to Auckland Transport.
In February, the Government committed up to $200 million to help remove level crossings. The money was to be spent on both vehicular and pedestrian crossings.
Auckland Transport infrastructure director Murray Burt said the pedestrian bridges would help to make it safer to access the stations and to make it easier to run trains more reliably.
He said: “Every single incident at a level crossing has an impact that can be deadly or life-changing, taking a huge toll on train drivers and those who narrowly miss a collision.
“Takanini and Te Mahia stations have been prioritised because that section of the Southern line is the busiest on the Auckland rail network, with a large number of freight and passenger trains.
“Removing the level crossing at Glen Innes station is needed because it is the last remaining level crossing on the Eastern line, which will have trains every five minutes at peak after City Rail Link opens.”
One station entrance will be closed at Glen Innes, under the proposed plans, with some passengers expected to walk further than they have to now.
The designs for the bridges were 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,” Burt said.
“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.”
Hundreds of millions are expected to be spent on level crossing removals in Auckland over the next decade.
Officials intended all 42 remaining level crossings in the region to be eliminated over the next 30 years to “address safety risks and allow more frequent train services”.
Following these initial pedestrian bridges, the programme will focus on Takanini road crossings before moving to Western line crossings in the 2030s and later to the Southern line between Papakura and Pukekohe.
