The Tunnels Trail project has been designated as a major project by the Dunedin City Council, connecting Wingatui to Kaikorai Valley Rd.
The budget for the project, which incorporates the decommissioned Chain Hills rail tunnel, has been given $11.9 million.
Dunedin Tunnels Trail project manager Rhys Stickings, from Octa Associates, was appointed to the project in August last year.
He said the project would be part of $23million divided between several cycleway projects across the city.
The DCC 10-year-plan from 2018 to 2028 included the Tunnels Trail project.
Neither the timeline for the project nor the final forecasted cost of the project were known as this stage, Mr Stickings said.
As the project had been designated as a major project by the DCC it was being supported by the DCC Programme Management Office, which would ensure delivery of the project was successful.
"The tunnels trail project will shortly be going out to tender for designers and business case writers.
"This is to formalise the design and costings so the stages can be linked."
A project brief had been completed by the DCC transport team and was awaiting approval from council executives before proceeding to the "initiation phase", he said.
"The initiation phase is where the business case, project baseline plan and project management plan are formalised alongside cost reports, the concept design and delivery strategy."
Mr Stickings said the next step was for the scope of works to be issued for designers, business case writers and quantity surveyors.
Once they were appointed, the concept design and costings would be finalised and the Chain Hill tunnel investigated.
He said the project management plan would then be released, and a project baseline plan created.
Related Stories
Comments
$12m for a potential 5-10 people per week-day to use the tunnel? Weekends maybe 20-30? What are they smoking in those DCC chambers? Just look at at the other cycle paths around Dunedin-empty. More financial lunacy from an out of control DCC who can not run any large project like this to a budget. Have they asked the simple question of Mosgiel residents- would you like your rates to go up by $1,200 per year ($12m/approx 10,000 rate payers) to pay for this project? Obvious, but not for the DCC....
Clearly you're not a cyclist, or perhaps have ever ridden a bike. If you were, you'd realise that the trip from Mosgiel to Kaikorai going the current way (up and over the hills) is a lot of effort and time wasted, when compared to a relatively flat alternate route.
I can assure you, it will be used. Get out of your car, get a bike and start exploring the cycle ways (especially the harbourside ones) and you might find you actually enjoy getting free, and stress free, easy exercise.
You should know by now that everything that every council (and government etc) approves costs an absurd amount of money. Hundreds of thousands/millions of dollars for road reseals etc which costs way more for maintenance than cycle trails do over their lifespan. Get used to it. It's been this way for decades, and will continue to be that way.
Wow. That’s a quite loaded wheelbarrow you’re pushing there.
A bit of truth here wouldn't go astray. $12 mill is todays cost, not the 2025 price. And this is only half the project with the Lookout Point tunnel being the other half. So come on lycra wearers, tell us how you are going to fund the $40 million needed.
As Otago ideas says, there are very few people who want to ride a bike from Mosgeil to town. Is this really the best return DCC can get for $40 million?
"A bit of truth here wouldn't go astray." So where does $40m come from? Given most of the quoted $11.9m will be the 8km of track between the tunnels, you're drawing a very long bow for the supposed remaining $28m. As for practical returns, Auckland research shows for every $1 spent on cycle improvements, more than $20 is saved due to fewer road traffic injuries, reduced emissions, the health benefits of increased exercise, and savings on fuel.
Commuting, recreational, and tourism usage will mean there will be considerably more than OtagoIdeas is suggesting, and it may become crowded quite quickly.
Do you really think every cyclist out there is clad in lycra? If so, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings.
MANY of these people are also motorists (Shock! Horror!), but unlike you they're utilising these services (cycleways) provided by the council. So in reality, you're the one who's not getting your money's worth, as you're (for some reason) refusing to use the cycleways.
And OtagoIdeas is dead wrong, i'm not an active cyclist but already know a lot of people who would use the Mosgiel-Kaikorai route, as well as the Kaikorai-Caversham one when that gets opened.
Stop pulling figures out of thin air, and try be a little less negative about life. Buy a bike, get riding. Don't wear lycra if you don't want to, it's not a rule. I don't and never will, in fact i often wear jeans while riding. Don't hate an idea before you try it.
Even Alice wouldn’t understand this Wonderland.
Finally. Hopefully old Caversham tunnel won't stay locked for too long, opening only one tunnel doesn't really change the game. While costs are high they are not as shocking as that of harbourside cycleways, and tunnels have pretty clear benefits for average cyclists (minus 200-300 meters of climbing) and a lot more residents in the catchment area who can benefit from that.
These funds would be better spent in getting the first phase of a tram system running in Dunedin. This would fund the High St cable system which would not only draw those all important tourists but give Dunedin a little bit of a personality.
Given both tunnels already exist, are safe and walkable now, what on earth is this money being spent on? Just open the gates and let people use them!
There is no need to pay a whole bunch of suits nearly 12 million to do... to do.... to do.... What, for crying out loud? This is lunacy! The infrastructure already exists!