A joint statement from Vector and North Shore City Council

Bayswater footbridge temporarily closed September 16, 2003

A footbridge which crosses a Bayswater inlet has been temporarily closed while North Shore City Council and Vector work together to relocate a set of power lines.

The lines straddle a small estuary and are near a footbridge which links the Kawerau and Plymouth Reserves in Bayswater.

The route is popular with local residents and school children coming and going from nearby Bayswater Primary.

North Shore City's parks and environment manager, Andrew Rutledge, says the need to relocate the lines has arisen following the council's recent alterations to the bridge to meet current safety standards.

"Despite the lines still being well clear of the bridge, the gap between the lines and the bridge now breach current regulations, which is why the lines need to be relocated," Mr Rutledge says.

The temporary closure has been supported by the Ministry of Commerce.

Vector's engineers are now assessing the best options for moving and re-aligning the poles or placing the lines partly out of sight.

Andrew Rutledge says there may be some inconvenience to users of the bridge while the lines are relocated.

"However there will be a benefit for park users, as the bridge will be safer and lines may also be placed out of sight for a part of the distance," he says.

The bridge is expected to be closed for up to eight weeks until the work is complete. North Shore City Council and Vector apologise to users of the footbridge for any inconvenience during this time.

© Scoop Media