Government pumps $15m into Wellington's eastern suburbs cycleways
An artist's impression of a proposed new cycleway on Wellington's Evans Bay Parade. Construction is expected to start this summer.
The Government has agreed to stump up more than $15 million to help fund a number of cycleway projects in Wellington's eastern suburbs.
The New Zealand Transport Agency funding will go towards projects that include a two-way bike path around Evans Bay, improvements on Cobham Drive and in Kilbirnie and a safer connection to Newtown.
Wellington City Council had already approved $8.9m for the projects, many of which are set to begin construction within the next few months.
A cycleway will also be constructed on a small section of Wellington's Oriental Parade.
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said the work was an important step in developing a safe cycling network across the capital.
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"We know that many Wellingtonians want the freedom to cycle around their city but need separated cycling routes like these to feel safe," she said.
The cycleway projects will stretch across Wellington's eastern suburbs.
"This Government is committed to working with Wellington [City] Council to improve cycling infrastructure across the city and I hope this is the first of many such announcements."
The $15.3m funding boost will come from the transport agency's National Land Transport Fund ($10.3m) and its urban cycleway fund ($5m).
Paul Barker, the council's network improvements manager, said work on the Evans Bay Parade cycleway would start this summer, but could take 18 months or longer to complete.
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter says Wellingtonians want to cycle, but some fear for their safety.
"The work will take time because seawalls in several locations along the route are likely to be strengthened and upgraded at the same time."
Uphill bike lanes on Crawford St and Constable St in Newtown were likely to be completed by the end of the year, as was the bike path on Oriental Parade between Herd St and Freyberg Pool.
In Kilbirnie, work on new kerbside lanes for Rongotai Rd was expected to start in the next few months, while construction of kerbside lanes on Coutts St should commence over the summer.
Work on Cobham Drive was already under way and would take about a year.
Genter said the Government was likely to spend more than $1 billion on new walking and cycling infrastructure across the country over the next decade.
CYCLEWAYS PLANNED FOR WELLINGTON
* Two-way path on Evans Bay Parade, between Carlton Gore Rd and Cobham Drive, and between Cobham Drive and Kilbirnie Crescent.
* Uphill lanes for Crawford Rd and the top of Constable St in Newtown
* Two-way path on Oriental Parade between Herd St and Freyberg Pool
* Kerbside lanes with raised buffer on Rongotai Rd between Onepu Rd and Te Whiti St
* Kerbside paths on Coutts St between Te Whiti St and airport runway subway
* Kerbside lanes on Tirangi Rd between Coutts St and Leonie Gill Pathway
* On-road painted lanes on Te Whiti St
- Stuff
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