Construction is set to start on Waipā’s Hamilton to Cambridge section of Te Awa River Ride, following a successful tender at the end of last year.
The $5.92 million construction contract was awarded by Waipā District Council before the holiday close-down to local contractor, Civil Construction Services, based in Cambridge.
The project has received two major funding contributions of $2.95M from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and a $2.84M investment managed by the Provincial Development Unit, following the Council’s successful application to the Infrastructure Industry Reference Group for ‘Shovel Ready’ project funding during the Covid-19 level four lockdown last year.
Waipā Council is also contributing $1.14M of loan-funded resource into the community asset.
Work is expected to begin on the 10-month build by the end of January with completion earmarked for early November. The Waipa section includes 3km of 3m-wide concrete path, 1.4km of boardwalks, two bridges, drainage, culverts, landscaping and fencing which will be placed alongside the Waikato River.
Council Mayor Jim Mylchreest said the new section would open up more economic, social, and wellbeing opportunities for local residents and visitors to the district.
“Our district hosts many internationally competitive cyclists, and Cambridge has a keen appetite as a community for more commuting and recreational opportunities. The Te Awa River Ride is already so well used, this additional section which takes people across farmlands and through the trees, will only enhance the outstanding asset it already is.”
The full Hamilton to Cambridge section will be built by four different organisations, Waka Kotahi, Waipā District Council, Waikato District Council and Hamilton City Council, as it traverses three district boundaries.
“The Waipā section of the Te Awa River Ride, between Banks Road and the Velodrome, will follow the Waikato River wherever possible so cyclists will have some breathtaking views across the river,” Mylchreest said.
Jennifer Palmer, general manager of Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust, said the final section of Te Awa would provide many benefits to the public.
“We’re thrilled to be starting construction of this final section of Te Awa and we cannot wait to open the entire path later this year. Te Awa is already one of New Zealand’s busiest cycleways and cycling is soaring across NZ – having 60km of connected, off-road cycleway travelling through beautiful and diverse scenery has so many social and economic benefits for our region.”
Once completed, the full Te Awa River Ride cycleway will span 60km from Ngaruawahia, through Hamilton and Cambridge, finishing up just past Mighty River Domain at Taumatawiwi. For more information on the Te Awa River Ride, head to www.te-awa.org.nz.
