A key piece of the Kaiaua to Kopu section of the Hauraki Rail Trail can now be slotted into place, says the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has announced it'll fund a clip-on cycle lane for the Piako River bridge on State Highway 25 near Ngatea, to provide a safe crossing for trail users and road cyclists.

TCDC plus the Hauraki District Council and the transport agency have each contributed $1 million to the $4.2 million cost of completing the final leg of the trail.

Work on the Piako Bridge clip-on has begun and track construction is back in full swing following an unscheduled break over winter due to adverse weather conditions.

NZTA regional director Parekawhia McLean says the 250m lightweight steel and timber clip-on will provide a safe off-road river crossing for trail users.

'This is a fantastic example of a co-investment approach between Government and the two councils. We have all worked together to get the clip-on lanes and this stage of the project underway.”

The Kopu to Kaiaua leg of the trail runs mostly along the top of the stop banks beside the Firth of Thames, bordering one of the most important areas for shorebirds in the country.

Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie says on top of realising the councils' vision of creating a true, multi-day cycling experience, the completion of the final section will bring Auckland cyclists that much closer to the Coromandel and the Hauraki Plains on a safe, scenic route.

'The rail trail is such a great asset for the region. We'd like to thank the Transport Agency for pitching in with this great project."

A further $1.2 million is still needed to cover the last 15km from Pūkorokoro/Miranda to Kaiaua but it's expected the bulk of the new section of the trail will be ready to ride in April next year.

Hauraki District Mayor John Tregidga is delighted the transport agency agreed to help bring the seven year Hauraki Rail Trail project to the verge of completion.

'The New Zealand Cycleway project, Nga Haerenga, has provided a huge boost for the regions, both economically and socially, and it all began right here in Hauraki.

'The Hauraki Rail Trail was the first New Zealand Great Ride to open so the completion of the final section from Kopu to Kaiaua is a significant milestone for us.”

The Hauraki Rail Trail is a partnership between the Thames Coromandel, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako district councils, the Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust and the Crown.

New Zealand Cycle Trails, Department of Conservation, the Transport Agency, and Waikato Regional Council have also contributed to the project.

For more information on the Hauraki Rail Trail visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/hrt