Construction of the pathway was first suggested in 2015, as a 'spur line' from the Waterview shared path, which was being designed at the time.

In October 2017, Auckland Transport released an updated design based on feedback during the consultation period.

The largest change was the addition of an underpass at the St George's Rd rail crossing, at the behest of KiwiRail, who wished to avoid new level crossings with the frequency of Auckland's passenger rail increasing in the coming years.

[5] The pathway has attracted criticism from public transport advocates, both before and after its opening, who say that the pathway, while a good link in the network and an effective low-carbon way of travel, lacks proper wayfinding signage and feels like it was designed by engineers rather than for people.

Most of all, they criticise the dangerous nature of some of the pathway's level crossings, which are not signalised and lack a raised table.