With the final leg completed this week, the Wairoa cycleway has opened just in time for the summer holidays.
The last 800-metre section, between Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem, completes the final section of the scenic 19-kilometre Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway.
Tauranga City Council Team Leader of cycle plan implementation, Karen Hay, says the new cycleway is a great addition to the area’s cycleway network, which gives people options for how they want to travel.
“This connection allows people to safely cross the Wairoa River bridge and continue their journey between Ōmokoroa to Tauranga without the risk of sharing this section of road with trucks and cars.
“Combined with the reduced speed limit along this section of State Highway 2, this area is now much safer for all road users. With summer holidays just around the corner, I hope people get ready to pump up their tyres.”
The cycleway, which began as part of the Urban Cycleways Programme project has been a collaborative project between Western Bay of Plenty District Council, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, interest groups and iwi.
“The result is a fantastic asset for our community,” says Karen.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty System Manager, Roger Brady, says, “It’s great to see the last piece of this cycleway complete, providing an opportunity for people to access and appreciate the beautiful environment we live in here in the Western Bay. This is the culmination of significant investment and effort from partners, we are looking forward to seeing the community enjoy it.”
The cycleway takes people under the Wairoa Bridge, and up the Waimarino side of the road to a new signalised crossing (traffic lights) at the top of the hill, which are now operational.
The crossing was initially planned to provide safe connection to surrounding areas and has been constructed early to support the cycleway project.
It enables people to cross State Highway 2 to Carmichael Road and connect to cycle paths at Gordon Carmichael Reserve to the city.
Drivers are asked to be alert to the new roading design, including the crossing, which when activated by cyclists will pause traffic for around 20 seconds, as well as the reduced speed limit.
People on bikes should slow down and be mindful of other users while travelling under the bridge.
More information including a map of the Wairoa cycleway
More information about the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway