The preferred option for a new bridge over the Waikato River showing the northern end of it going through Cambridge’s north-western suburbs has spooked residents.
The realisation their houses could go under the Cambridge Connections business case saw residents contact The News, most searching for more information and how they could become stakeholders.
“It says everyone has been contacted… well, we haven’t,” said one caller.
Another said she hoped to get a residents’ group together to find out more information from the council.
“This came like a bolt out of the blue.”
The council said last week the preferred option had developed as the favourite following 129 pieces of stakeholder input.
Bryan Hudson
Transport manager Bryan Hudson said traffic modelling and growth projections were considered for the proposal, which is now open for public feedback.
A double page spread in today’s Cambridge News shows the bridge going from Cambridge’s Town Belt across the river to an area between Dick and Grey streets and taking in Bryce and upper Duke streets.
The council describes it as a “potential” area for a third bridge.
Under the Resource Management Act, any designation for another bridge should be supported by a detailed environmental assessment of the options, consultation with iwi, landowners and the public.
This would only take place once there was buy in to the business case and funded was secured.
Limiting the Victoria ‘High Level’ Bridge to cyclists, pedestrians and scooters also took The News readers by surprise as did the dismissal of on-off ramps at the end of Tirau Road, near the golf course, onto Waikato Expressway.
Public feedback closes on Friday March 29.
