Construction begins on Uni-Cycle route

Contractors have started work on the first significant new construction on Christchurch City Council's Major Cycle Routes.

Fulton Hogan is building a 400 metre separated cycleway along Matai Street East. It will form part of the Uni-Cycle route, one of 13 Major Cycle Routes planned by the Council.

"For years people have been calling on the Council to build safer facilities for cyclists so it is exciting to see this work getting under way," says Phil Clearwater, Chairman of the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee.

"It signals the start of some significant momentum for the Major Cycle Routes, which, along with other major changes in the Central City and beyond, will transform the city's transport network."

The Matai Street East cycleway work will also see improvements made to the intersection of Fendalton Road, Harper and Deans avenues as well as a signal-controlled crossing of Deans Avenue leading to Hagley Park.

The work is expected to take about three months to complete at a cost of $1.6 million. This is shared between the Government's Urban Cycleways Fund ($500,000), National Land Transport Fund ($550,000) and the Council ($550,000).

Uni-Cycle is among the first four routes to be built. The others are:

· Papanui Parallel: Connecting Northlands and the Northern Rail Route to the Central City.

· Quarryman’s Trail: The link between Halswell, Hoon Hay and Somerfield to the Southern Lights route which connects the southern suburbs around Beckenham to the Central City.

· Rapanui Shag Rock Cycleway: From the Coastal Pathway at Ferrymead to the Central City.

Contractors are hoping to begin work this month on a signal-controlled crossing of Waimairi Road, which will form part of the Uni-Cyle Route.

On the Papanui Parallel route, contractors are also set to begin work this month on a section through Rutland Reserve. The shared pedestrian and cycle path will link Grassmere Road to Rutland Street. It has been allocated $250,000 from the Urban Cycleways Fund and the National Land Transport Fund will contribute $250,000, leaving $250,000 for the Council.

The attached fact sheets provide information on the Uni-Cycle Route and Matai Street East works.

More information about the development of the Major Cycle Routes is available online at www.ccc.govt.nz/cycleways

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