Almost $1million is being spent on to improve road safety around schools in Howick.
Howick Local Board will spend $520,000 from Auckland Transport’s Community Safety Fund on a Flat Bush Culvert pedestrian bridge to Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School, and about $460,000 on improving safety outside Botany Downs Secondary College on Chapel Road.
"This is a win for our community and young people," board chair David Collings says.
The Chapel Road work was made possible when AT engineers designed a solution that means the school will not have to give up land to allow for road layout changes.
"Auckland Transport deserves credit for its hard work to ensure both projects can go ahead," Mr Collings says.
"This is about the safety of young people attending Te Uho o te Nikau, where the roll will certainly increase, and older students who must negotiate a major road. Both projects are complex and expensive, but safety has to come first."
Board member Mike Turinsky saw a student hit outside the college and says he never wants to see it again.
"Luckily we were only dealing with bumps, bruises and contusions that day, but it might have been very much worse, so I’m delighted we are moving forward."
Fellow member Adele White says it’s a great outcome because the board has been desperately seeking ways to resolve the dangers to Howick’s young people.
"We owe a debt to Te Uho o te Nikau Board of Trustees chair Karen Gibson who has tirelessly advocated for a pedestrian bridge."
Ms Gibson says the school is thrilled because the current bridge has no footpaths, forcing children on to a narrow road used by commuter traffic and heavy trucks.
"We need to acknowledge that while we have fought for this for a long time, the board has always been committed to finding a solution."
A wooden ‘clip-on’ bridge will be added to the existing bridge and could last for years until the bridge is replaced.
