Construction of a keenly sought pedestrian link between Green Island and Waldronville has been welcomed as a first step to providing better connections for communities along the South coast.
The Saddle Hill Community Board first tabled requests for improvements to pedestrian access along the main South coast route at a meeting with Dunedin City Council roading engineers, two years ago.
Dunedin City Council transport operations project manager Evan Matheson said there had long been a demand for a footpath between the suburbs as pedestrian use of the semi-rural road had grown.
Construction of a 1.56km gravel footpath along Brighton Rd between Green Island and Waldronville was now under way, Mr Matheson said.
Saddle Hill community board member Scott Weatherall said the new link would provide for safer pedestrian access.
"It is fantastic from a community perspective. Anything is better than what previously was there," Mr Weatherall said.
As pedestrian and cyclist numbers along the stretch of road had risen, so had a corresponding need to improve safety.
DCC transport engineer Michael Harrison said funding to build more footpaths along the South coast was likely to become available during the next three years.
Funding of $188,000 for the 2m-wide gravel footpath had eventuated earlier than anticipated to allow the council to bring construction of the sought-after footpath project forward, Mr Harrison said.
