Bishop welcomes start of new Wainuiomata Hill cycleway
Bishop welcomes start of new Wainuiomata Hill cycleway
Friday, 24 November 2017
MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop is welcoming the start of construction on the new Wainuiomata Hill cycleway and shared path.
Mr Bishop joined Hutt City Deputy Mayor David Bassett and Wainuiomata Ward Councillors Campbell Barry and Josh Briggs in “turning the first sod” this morning at the bottom of the hill.
“Lots of people are already walking and cycling over the Wainuiomata hill already, and this will encourage even more Hutt residents to get on their bikes and get their walking shoes on. It’s a safe and accessible way to connect Wainuiomata to the rest of the Hutt Valley,” Mr Bishop says.
The shared pathway is a $12.7 million project, with funding coming from the Hutt Council, the NZ Transport Agency, and the National-led government’s Urban Cycleways Fund.
“As a local MP I’ve championed cycling projects in the Hutt and it’s great to have another key cycling infrastructure project underway. It will fit well alongside other recent cycling initiatives, including cycle design improvements at the Haywards Interchange, the Eastern Bays Shared Path, and progress on the Melling to Wellington cycleway.”
“We now need to make progress in particular on the Petone to Ngauranga section of the route into Wellington, which remains in a poor state.”
The cycleway is expected to be up and running in 18 months.
“This is
a great example of Government agencies and the community
working together to improve safety on our roads for cyclists
and motorists,” Mr Bishop
says.
ENDS