Glenvar Cycleway and Bridge

The construction of a new road interjection prompted Auckland transport to commission BMLA to design a pedestrian bridge. Our thinking about the design revolves around the position of the bridge in relationship to the location of the proposed Long Bay/ Albany link and the potential for increased community amenities. To that end we think the retention of the existing hill is a critical part of the urban/landscape design component of the intersection design. The top of the hill becomes an important social gathering point which can be linked across the top of the ridge with the ped / cycle bridge, connecting Lonely Track road to Glenvar road. We would replant the edge of the roundabout and new park with young kauri rickers, making a unique experience for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists approaching the intersection, entering the grove of kauri with fantastic views out to the gulf and islands. We want to make the bridge form as minimal as possible, a sinuous curving path in the sky, rather than using any complicated structural pyrotechnics with cables or trusses. The experience we want is a bit like a tree walk; the path/bridge is part of the landscape experience, especially connecting to the amazing views of the Hauraki Gulf.