The Cambridge Pathway route from Hamilton Road through to the High Level Bridge.
An $8.6 million extension of the Cambridge cycleway through to the Victoria High Level bridge has been approved to proceed to detailed design and procurement.
The route – named the Cambridge Pathway – turns from Hamilton Road into Bryce Street, and travels along Alpha, Duke, Wilson and Victoria streets finishing up at the Cambridge end of the High Level bridge.
Funding of $3 million comes from Waipā’s Long Term Plan and $5.6 million from Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency) which includes money from the Climate Emergency Response fund, announced by the government last year.
For deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk it represents one of her proudest moments in her 10 years on Waipā District Council.
“This money from heaven as I call it has made all the difference,” she said.
The council’s Service Delivery committee approved the Cambridge Pathway project at its meeting this week.
Staff said the project had strong community support, provided more transport options and improves the community connection to the Te Awa River Ride through the Alpha Street connection.
Community feedback to the draft plans came through stakeholder meetings, phone calls, emails, letter, online surveys, Facebook and webinar. They were analysed and then considered by the Urban Mobility Working Group, chaired by councillor Mike Pettit.
Key changes to the original plans were made which included narrowing the intersections on Bryce Street to ensure shorter road crossing distances for pedestrians and cyclists, adding crossing points along the entire route with priority for pedestrians and cyclists over cars and minimising visual clutter on the cycleway.
Cars are unlikely to use Bryce Street as a rat run around town with the changes which include raised platforms aimed at lowering speeds.
A funding agreement is in place with Waka Kotahi for the current design and consultation phase.
A construction procurement plan, including a cost estimate, will be prepared for an approved scheme plan.
Council also considered the project’s impact on Climate change. Cambridge Pathway would contribute to the reduction in private car use and associated emission reduction, staff told the committee.
Stolwyk asked Cambridge people to be patient when work got underway.
While the Streets for People project with its brightly coloured planter boxes and chess boards were controversial two years ago, and left her “battered and abused”, the Cambridge Pathway had seen more consultation and agreement, she said.
