The contract for the construction of a 1.25 km shared-use cycle and pedestrian path alongside Gorge Road in Whakatāne has been let to local company Waiotahi Contractors Limited.
The 2.0-2.5 metre wide concrete path from the bottom of Gorge Road to Aida Vale will complete the shared-use pathway linking the Ōhope Beach and Whakatāne communities, at a cost of $1.269 million. The project scope includes:
- Construction of five sections of retaining wall to support the widened pathway
- New kerb and channel on the gorge side of the road and a concrete dish channel on the hill side
- Improved streetlighting
- Installation of a services duct for power and communications use
- New shared-use path signage
The New Zealand Transport Agency will contribute $776,000 towards the pathway and road drainage elements of the project, while the Whakatāne Community Board has agreed to contribute $20,000 and the Ōhope Beach Community Board $10,000. The Whakatāne District Council will seek a further $135,000 of external contributions, with the balance to be funded from Council reserves.
Whakatāne District Mayor Tony Bonne says the wider pathway will address safety concerns for cyclists and pedestrians using Gorge Road, one of the District’s most heavily-used highways. “The existing footpath is not ideal, given the number of pedestrians and cyclists who regularly use it, so the funding provided by NZTA and our other community partners is very welcome, allowing us to more than double the pathway width over most of the route.”
Council Infrastructure General Manager Tomasz Krawczyk says work will start early in June and be completed in September. “Construction is likely to be undertaken at a number of sites simultaneously, throughout the project, which will have some impact on road users,” he says. “For safety reasons, Gorge Road will be reduced to two lanes for much of that period, so motorists will need to exercise patience and allow extra transit time for their journeys.”
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project, with diversions in place around active work sites, as required. Access to the Birdwalk and the adjacent carpark at the western end of Gorge Road is likely to be closed for a short period while the pathway is constructed in that area. Advice of any closure will be provided via local media and social media.