The Northern Pathway project will provide a seamless dedicated walking and cycling link between Auckland’s City Centre and the North Shore which will connect with existing local paths to extend the region’s walking and cycling network.
On 2 October 2021 the Government announced that it would not proceed with the standalone bridge component of the Northern Pathway project and instead investigate an alternative way for people to walk and cycle across the Waitematā Harbour.
Please read the frequently asked questions for more information.
The Northern Pathway, from central Auckland to Albany on the North Shore, is split into three connected sections for delivery.
| Name | Gifted Māori name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Westhaven to Akoranga | Te Ara Pae Moana (harbour bridge component) | Design and consenting |
| Akoranga to Constellation Drive | Business case phase | |
| Constellation Drive to Albany | Construction phase (as part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project) |
The three sections of the Northern Pathway project are at different stages of delivery and together will provide a seamless walking and cycling link between central Auckland and the North Shore.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is committed to working in partnership with mana whenua to deliver the project following the principles of Te Ara Kotahi including recognising and providing for cultural heritage, identity and Mātauranga Māori.
The Northern Pathway component which travels across the Waitematā Harbour has been gifted a Māori name ‘Te Ara Pae Moana’ which translates as the path to the Horizon.
Te Ara Kotahi – Our Maori Strategy factsheet [PDF, 985 KB]
Waka Kotahi is dedicated to working closely with partners, stakeholders and community throughout the design and delivery of the Northern Pathway.
It will be an important community facility supporting greater travel choices, health and wellbeing and recreational use of space for those travelling between central Auckland and the North Shore.
Coordination with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and Panuku Development Auckland as well as interest and community groups will ensure that the Northern Pathway recognises cultural history and utilises local knowledge to help the project teams understand the areas we are working in and how best to design for safety and accessibility.
This 5km section of the Northern Pathway starts in Westhaven, travels across the Waitemata Harbour and continues onto Akoranga. This section is the critical link required to connect central Auckland and the North Shore, providing choice for how people travel to work, access services or connect with family and friends.
This section was previously known as SkyPath/Auckland Harbour Bridge Shared Path and SeaPath. Both components have now been combined for delivery of the Northern Pathway.
This section was originally conceived as two separate projects and Waka Kotahi completed individual Detailed Business Cases (DBC).
Auckland Harbour Bridge shared path – single stage business case [PDF, 14 MB]
SeaPath – detailed business case [PDF, 12 MB]
The preferred option for the Northern Pathway is now a standalone bridge alongside the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge, protecting the structural and heritage integrity of the existing bridge which is a key part of the strategic transport network, as well as creating a world class link for people to travel across the harbour on foot and on bikes for generations to come.
This would provide a more enduring solution than the design originally within the New Zealand Upgrade Programme which was a shared path attached to the side of the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge piers. Providing a separated solution that is fit for a growing Auckland with an increasingly decarbonised transport system, will help unlock the significant investment that has already been made to enabling a healthy and sustainable transport system through a number of other walking and cycling connections on either side of the harbour.
The new design allows for growth in the number of people who will walk and cycle over the harbour in the coming decades. Waka Kotahi will continue to look for short-term solutions to be able to provide walking and cycling access across the harbour. These solutions need to address safety, walking and cycling, motorist demands and operational issues.
The Akoranga to Constellation Drive section of the Northern Pathway will connect with the other sections at each end. The project team will also look into how this section connects with the local network of shared paths to help increase access to the walking and cycling network.
Waka Kotahi awarded the contract at the end of 2019 to develop a preliminary design for this section as part of a business case. During May and June 2020, we sought feedback from partners, key stakeholders and the community to help identify the preferred option for this section.
Now that the preferred route has been identified, it will need to be endorsed by our Board and funding approved before the detailed design can begin.
Akoranga to Constellation Drive preferred route [PDF, 2 MB]
The business case is expected to be submitted to the Board in the first quarter of 2021.
CloseThis section of the Northern Pathway will deliver 7km of shared walking and cycling path as part of the wider Northern Corridor Improvements project. The shared path will include a wide range of local road and park connections, helping to increase accessibility to the local bus stations and key destinations.
Construction is currently underway on this section of the Northern Pathway as part of the wider Northern Corridor Improvements project.
Auckland Northern Corridor Improvements project information
Construction of the Northern Corridor Improvements project, including the new walking and cycling paths, is expected to be complete in mid-2022.
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