Clutha Gold Charitable Trust trustee Graham Dillon said work on the 20km section from Roxburgh to Minzion Burn began on Monday. It will pass Dumbarton Bluff, Teviot Bluff and Millers Flat, ending about 6km south of Millers Flat at Minzion Burn, the start of the Beaumont Gorge.
He said about 95% of this section of the trail crossed public conservation land (marginal strip) and the remaining 5% was on private land.
The trust had hoped to begin work on the trail last year, but was unable to do so as contractors were not available any earlier.
Mr Dillon was unable to give a cost for the Roxburgh to Minzion Burn section of the trail, as it was under tender with Waihola Excavation Ltd and was "commercially sensitive".
Work on another section near Roxburgh was expected to begin in the next few days.
Clutha Gold Charitable Trust chairman Rod Peirce said that this portion of the trail, which will be 2.5m wide, would be suitable for all levels of cyclists.
Points of interest on the Roxburgh to Minzion Burn section of the trail include sections of native vegetation as well as mining artefacts, including hand-stacked tailings, dredge tailings and old dredge hulks lying in the river. The trail will also pass Pinders Pond, a popular summer camping and swimming spot.
Mr Peirce said the support of landowners along the trail route was "invaluable" and the trust would be working closely with them as work progressed.
The 73km trail, which will cost an estimated $5.5 million, was the first in Central Otago to receive funding under the New Zealand Cycle Trail project, getting $3.8 million from the Government.
A 20km section is planned in the Clutha district, between Beaumont and Lawrence, and the remaining 53km will be in Central Otago, from Lake Roxburgh to Beaumont.
Planning is for the trail to be constructed in six sections. It is expected the last two sections to be completed will be between between Beaumont and Lawrence. No tender has yet been awarded for that part of the trail.
Tim Dennis, of Wanaka, who has been involved with the trail over the past two or three years, has been named trail project manager.
