Te Ara Tupua Alliance construction contract milestone reached
Kia ora,
We’ve reached a major milestone for the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua this week, as we’ve celebrated the signing of the Project Alliance Agreement between Waka Kotahi and our delivery team made up of Downer NZ, HEB Construction and Tonkin + Taylor. The team, which was working under an interim agreement to develop the design, construction approach, and cost for the project, is now confirmed for the construction stage.
Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One is the missing link in a future Wellington to Hutt Valley cycling spine and will provide a far safer option than what is currently available. As a safe and separated route, it will encourage more people to use active transport both recreationally and for their commute, which is great for peoples’ health and wellbeing and of course better for the environment.
It will also increase protection and resilience for the rail line and State Highway 2 from the effects of rising sea levels and climate change, strengthening Wellington’s strategic transport links.
As an iconic harbour-side path on Te Whanganui-a-Tara, it will be a draw-card for tourists and locals looking to enjoy the capital’s stunning harbour environment.
The signing was made possible when the Waka Kotahi Board approved the additional funding required to complete the project, announced last week. The project has been affected by the inflationary pressures of a constrained labour market, supply chain disruptions, the increased cost of materials and the impacts of COVID-19. These factors are resulting in increased costs on all Waka Kotahi projects.
We expect construction to begin on site towards the end of 2022. Initial works will include construction of new buildings on Honiana Te Puni Reserve, including Tawharau Pods which provide an iwi cultural presence and a new integrated clubs building which the existing Rowing and Water Ski organisations on the Reserve will be relocated to. There will be other ‘enabling’ works early in the project like setting up yards and building a temporary railway crossing at Ngā Ūranga for construction vehicles to use.
We expect construction will take approximately three and a half years to complete. Timeframes can change based on factors such as weather – and there are seasonal requirements on construction. At this stage, the project is likely to be completed in 2026.
Once completed, the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section will join the Pito-One to Melling section in the north (currently under construction), and the Wellington CBD to Ngā Ūranga section being progressed by Let’s Get Wellington Moving.
The signing of the Project Alliance Agreement was also a major milestone for Tupua Horo Nuku, the Eastern Bays shared path project. The project, led by Hutt City Council, will also be delivered by Te Ara Tupua Alliance under a partnership between the Council and Waka Kotahi. As another coastal walking and cycling project it shares many common challenges.
Both projects are being developed as partnerships with iwi mana whenua – Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The projects' names Te Ara Tupua and Tupua Horo Nuku and their designs reflect and honour the story of the two Tupua, Ngake and Whātaitai, who created Te Whanganui-a-Tara, based on traditional narrative belonging to the iwi.
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