Transport Minister David Parker will open the 5km section of shared path between St Leonards and Port Chalmers on August 26.
Construction funding was approved in 2019 for the SH88 safety improvements, including building the last section of the SH88 shared walking and cycling path between St Leonards and Port Chalmers.
Work started in early 2020 but was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It features a 3m-wide well-lit shared walking path, fencing separating the path and main trunk rail line, safer links from the path to communities along this route, and the installation of side safety barriers at high-risk locations on the sections of SH88 between Maia and Port Chalmers.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency regional relationships director James Caygill said combined with the Dunedin City Council path on the Portobello side, and the existing SH88 path from Dunedin to St Leonards, it forms a full loop route, Te Aka Ōtakou, the Otago Vine.
"Given the freight needs of SH88 to the port and KiwiRail, cycling on the winding and narrow highway has been a risky activity to date," Mr Caygill said.
"The fully paved and lit path around the water’s edge will be used by people on bikes as well as pedestrians [and] children on scooters, safely away from traffic and with several intersections at bays along the route upgraded for safety.
"The St Leonards to Port Chalmers section is remarkable for the number of obstacles that were overcome."
Given the lack of space in the historic coastal environment, land needed to be reclaimed, sections of the main trunk rail line were realigned, retaining walls were built and a 600m-plus boardwalk was built to carry the path around the edge of Blanket Bay, Mr Caygill said.
"This amazing project will benefit people across many generations and Waka Kotahi is excited to see it ready to use."
West Harbour Community Board chairwoman Ange McErlane said the project had taken a bit longer to complete than people would have originally anticipated, but the result would be well worth it.
"We had a lot of roadworks, and a delay due to Covid-19, but we couldn’t do much about that," Ms McErlane said.
"The pathway will open up access for people to come to Port Chalmers from town by cycle or walking.
"Once people start using it, all the opposition will go.
"It’s got lots of variety to it."
