Walking and Cycling: Separate Path to be Built

The proposed new highway across the Ruahine Ranges will include a separated shared path for cyclists and walkers.

During the recent Notice of Requirement hearing a number of submitters expressed their views on how a shared path would benefit cyclists and the wider region. We listened, and have now committed to a separated shared path the entire length of the project.

This facility is in addition to several other project features which will help the region realise its aspirations for tourism and recreation around Te Āpiti (Manawatū Gorge).

Separated walking and cycling facilities have also been included in the design for the new bridge to cross the Manawatū River, while ongoing access to the popular walking tracks in the Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve on the south side of the Manawatū River, both at Ashhurst and Woodville, will be maintained.

The construction of a walking and cycling facility at the existing Ashhurst bridge has been brought forward to next year, and we will provide a new walking and cycling connection from the Ashhurst Bridge to the Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve carpark.

On the Woodville side, we will provide an extension to the existing footpath between the centre of Woodville and Hampson Street (subject to land availability, which is likely), and the facility will be extended westwards, through or around the proposed new roundabout. This will facilitate access to the Ferry Reserve, delivering a part of the Lindauer Arts Trail.

Senior Freshwater Ecology Scientist Alex James and Field Assistant Sara Alchin-Grey collect information on the state of streams in the proposed road corridor

Project timetable on target

Our project timetable is on target. We are looking at enabling works in the 2019/20 construction period (from October 2019). 

Enabling works - such as building access roads so we can get machinery and materials to the new road corridor - are a key step as we prepare for construction of the new highway route. Construction of the new road itself is expected to get underway in the 2020/2021 construction period.

We are working closely with a range of groups to meet all our consenting and procurement requirements.  Two consortia are bidding to build the new road, and we expect to announce a successful contractor in July 2019.

The Notice of Requirement hearing for the designation of the road corridor will close this week, and we hope to receive the recommendation from the Panel of Commissioners in May.

Meanwhile, we have been doing more testing on site – geotechnical investigations, bat monitoring (see article below), seed collection and stream monitoring. This will help give us a better picture of what we’re working with, and how we can mitigate any impacts from the construction work.

Bat survey

Our native plants and animals are very important to us, and we are doing our best to make sure we have the smallest impact on the environment we can.

As part of this, we have been checking the preferred route for any New Zealand bat life – our only native land mammal.

We undertook two surveys last year, which found no bats in the area of the road corridor, and in March 2019 undertook a third survey.  This is the time of year when juvenile bats leave their roost - one of the most active times for bats.

This third survey again resulted in no bats being identified within the proposed road corridor, which means our works are very unlikely to have a negative impact on our bat population.

Watch the video below to find out how the crews undertake the bat monitoring survey.

Saddle Road open over Easter

If you are planning to travel along Saddle Road over the Easter break, the good news is that Saddle Road will be open in both directions. 

However, you may want to allow some extra time for your journey.  We had hoped to have work near the top of road finished by the public holidays but there will still be some chip sealed sections of road.

Crews will be onsite until midday on Thursday 18 April 2019 and they will return after the Easter break on 8am Tuesday, 23 April 2019.

Looking ahead, there will be a three-week closure of the westbound lane across Saddle Rd from 29 April 2019.  The lane will be closed for roadworks from 8.30am to 2.30 Monday to Friday until 17 May 2019.  Please make sure you plan your journey around this lane closure.

More information

If you have any questions or want to give us feedback, please drop us a line at teahuaturanga@nzta.govt.nz and we will get back to you within three working days, or you can call us on 0800 740 560.