Work commencing on inner city stage of Green Corridor

Work on the final stage of Rotorua’s Green Corridor project gets underway in the inner city next week, following the recent completion of Stage One across Kuirau Park.

Rotorua Lakes Council has awarded the second stage contract to local company Goodrick Construction, with work scheduled to start on Monday (20 April) and be completed by early July.

On completion, the Green Corridor will span a total of two kilometres, providing a safe cycling pathway all the way from Government Gardens, through the inner city, and across Kuirau Park to Lake Road where it joins up with the Ngongotaha cycle pathway. It will also link up with other cycleways across the district and be shared with other users including people on scooters, joggers and walking groups.

To minimise disruption, construction work is being undertaken on a block-by-block basis in the inner city. Prior to the start of work on each block council staff will be making contact directly with adjacent businesses to explain the work programme. The first block will be the eastern side of Hinemoa Street, between Hinemaru and Fenton streets, where work starts on Monday (20 April).

Rotorua Lakes Council’s Transport Operations manager Peter Dine said there would be some disruption to traffic and pedestrians while work was under taken.

“We’d certainly appreciate people’s patience and co-operation as temporary traffic and pedestrian diversions, and some closures, will be required from time-to-time as the project proceeds. However contractors will be doing their very best to minimise disruption as much as possible.”

“The Green Corridor project will include streetscaping and some beautification. It is part of the Rotorua 2030 draft Inner City Revitalisation strategy and the district’s wider cycling strategy, as well as supporting the council’s goals for providing recreation and healthy lifestyle opportunities.”

The corridor will run parallel to existing footpaths throughout the inner city providing a separate safe lane for cyclists and other users.

While the project will see the wider CBD’s estimated 2,700 parking spaces reduced by 50 spaces, Mr Dine said that the corridor will actually improve congestion in some streets where there is currently angle parking in the middle of the road and on both sides.

“The three lanes of parking tend to make manoeuvring difficult and vehicle scrapes are not uncommon, especially with an increasing number of larger vehicles like SUVs. The removal of one lane of angle parking in these locations will make them safer and much easier for motorists to use.”

The Green Corridor project is a partnership of Rotorua Lakes Council, New Zealand Transport Agency, the Inner City Focus Group and cycling groups. Fifty seven per cent of the project’s $397,000 total budget is being funded by NZ Transport Agency and the balance by the council.

People can stay up-to-date with progress on Rotorua’s Green Corridor development by visiting the council’s websiterotorualakescouncil.nz .

ENDS

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