Major progress has been made on the construction of a two-way cycleway in Cambridge with the first section nearing completion.
The foundations of the cycleway - which is the first of its kind in Waipā - and a new footpath have been laid through Payne Park to Vogel Street and will be completed in the coming weeks.
From there, it will be constructed up Hamilton Road to Bryce Street where it will connect with an existing shared pathway. This work is expected to take a further two months to finish.
Waipā District Council service delivery group manager Dawn Inglis said it was fantastic to see the cycleway start to take shape.
“This is going to be an amazing asset for the community and the first in a network of cycleways across Cambridge, and the wider district, which will make it safe and easy for residents to get key to destinations without needing to hop in a car.
“Cambridge is growing at a rapid rate so we need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to promote alternative modes of transport.”
Although the project features a cycleway, it also aims to improve Hamilton Road for all road users including mobility scooter users and pedestrians.
Included in the plans are improvements to the existing footpath, the installation of pedestrian traffic lights on Hamilton Road, the installation of two raised crossings on Bryce and Vogel Streets and an improved bus stop.
Inglis said in the coming weeks contractors would carry out preparation work, including laying drainage along Hamilton Road and setting up cordons around the trees lining the road, for the remainder of the cycleway.
“We are expecting to see some fairly rapid progress after the preparation work has been completed with an end of June deadline for the first stage of this project.”
The work is the first stage in a wider project to build a 3.2km two-way cycleway from the Victoria Street roundabout to the Avantidrome. It is expected to take three years to fully complete.
