Although the first stage of the route from Dunedin to St Leonards opened some years ago, the $50 million section, which includes safety improvements for communities along the way, is now almost completed.
The new St Leonards to Port Chalmers walking and cycling path will be available to people after the official opening at Sawyers Bay at 12.30pm.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the project provided a safe alternative route for pedestrians and cyclists to using SH88, which is a busy road and freight link between Dunedin and Port Chalmers.
"It completes the missing link needed to create an uninterrupted shared path from Dunedin to Port Chalmers," Mr Knackstedt said.
Work on the project began in early 2020, but its completion was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Most of the shared path structures use renewable timber that produces fewer carbon emissions than steel or concrete," Mr Knacksted said.
He said roadside safety barriers had been installed to separate the path from vehicles and to reduce the severity of crashes on SH88, while high-performance road markings on rural sections of SH88 will be easier for drivers to see at night and in wet weather.
Dunedin City Cr Jim O’Malley said it was a great addition to the city.
"It’s been a long journey to get to this point, but it’s worth it," Cr O’Malley said.
He said he intended to use the cycleway, and looked forward to future developments.
Some of the numbers include:
365,000 hours worked to date to deliver this project.
25,000cu m of rock used in the reclamation.
20,000 linear metres of timber used to construct the boardwalk.
200 lights to keep people safe on the new St Leonards to Port Chalmers path.
250 boardwalk piles support the 600m long board walk carrying the path around the edge of Blanket Bay.
3000 plants will be used for landscaping.
4500 metres of fencing to separate cyclists from the rail line.
