A cycle connection between Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem will go ahead to complete the missing link in the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway.
The last 800m of cycleway will reduce the immediate safety risk to cyclists who currently share this narrow section of road along State Highway 2 with vehicles travelling at high speed, and without protection.
Tauranga City Council transport director Brendan Bisley says the present situation is concerning and it is important to begin construction as soon as possible.
'We've been working in partnership with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and other key partners to develop a temporary solution between Wairoa Bridge and Carmichael Road. The cycleway will improve safety for all road users along this section of SH2 until a permanent solution can be developed.”
Pedestrian improvements will also need to be resolved as part of a longer-term solution in three to four years' time.
The connection will form part of the 19km Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, with the path extending under the bridge and up the other side of SH2.
At the top of the hill a new signalised crossing will be installed across SH2 to Carmichael Road, connecting through to the network of cycle paths at Gordon Carmichael Reserve and into the city.
The project is being funded by Waka Kotahi with a portion awarded as part of the National Land Transport Programme, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Council will begin preliminary work as soon as possible with the main construction starting in February next year. Construction will take several months.
Speed limit change:
A reduction in the current speed limit from 80km/h to 50km/h between the Wairoa Bridge and Carmichael Road is also proposed.
Link to more information: www.tauranga.govt.nz/wairoacycleway
7 comments
Absolute failure
Posted on 16-11-2022 08:45 | By an_alias
This has been an issue for so long and you are only just now doing it. How about you spend less time on big plans and get some actual useful infrastructure done. Fire the 4 might help with funding.
Bad Planning
Posted on 16-11-2022 09:05 | By jh
Either the cycle bridge was installed on the wrong side of SH2 bridge or the engineers have not looked into the traffic and parking problems to the Wairoa Marae
speed limit Wairoa bridge reserve
Posted on 16-11-2022 09:18 | By sundance kid
Maybe an appropriate time too to adjust the speed limit at the Wairoa bridge reserve. Coming from the Waipuna hospice side the speed limit through this serve is a ridiculous 100 kmh!!, while it is 80 kmh coming from the opposite direction. This matter has previously been brought to the attention of local authority, our member of parliament for the region and the land transport people.
Leave the speed limits alone!!!
Posted on 16-11-2022 09:20 | By The Professor
Stop reducing all the speed limits will you!! That is a cheap solution in place of building proper, dedicated cycleways, which are partly funded by users e.g. a bicycle rego. Hopefully the $15m bridge will get used once this work is completed.
Cycleway on bridge
Posted on 16-11-2022 09:39 | By Kancho
I seem to remember that local Maori want the planned cycle way changed on which side of the road it would be . That would mean the cycleway already built on the bridge is on the wrong side if the plan is changed? I also seem to remember the idea of a traffic light cycle crossing to join the bridge cycleway to the change of plan opposite side of the state highway was mentioned . Hopefully my recollection is wrong or the nonsense has been resolved. Or maybe the expensive cycleway on the bridge be removed and re built on the other side ?!
Morons on two wheels
Posted on 16-11-2022 10:02 | By Let's get real
Thousands spent on cycle paths along Totara Street and there's still some that HAVE to challenge heavy vehicles on the road. Common sense would suggest that if you believe that you are putting YOURSELF at significant risk, then you investigate options to keep YOURSELF safe. But for the cycling fraternity it's everyone else's responsibility and cost. Infuriating attitude
What a bad idea
Posted on 16-11-2022 12:10 | By TheCameltoeKid
So when this stupid cyclway is completed and a motorist has a breakdown, runs out of fuel or has a flat Tyre there'll be nowhere to pull over therefore causing complete chaos for all other motorists. This is just madness. Just like the Links Ave debacle should've been postponed until Baylink is finished (if ever) this cycleway that nobody uses should've been done after the Northern link is finished which will probably be done before Baylink is finished. And ever since they put that cycle bridge over the river I've never seen one cyclist use it. However a while ago I saw a MAMIL (middle aged man in lycra) use the road across the bridge holding up traffic. It's the same with the Harbour bridges. A cycleway has been provided on the northern bridge but the MAMIL's still use the roadway.
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