Over the past year contractors have been working in hard-to-access areas, which, at times, has been very challenging.
Equipment has been transported over the top of hills from the Cromwell side — thanks to landowners’ permission, and construction has been affected by freezing winter weather.
"This year two suspension bridges will be built over the Kawarau River at the Nevis Ferry and Citroen Rapids locations, which are either side of the Nevis River," trust chairman Aaron Halstead said.
Two bluff bridges will also be constructed to link the landlocked formed trail sections.
Last year contractors focused on accessing land-locked areas, including the completion of the bluff bridge upstream from Goldfields.
This heavy-duty bridge, at 3m wide and 52m long, has been engineered to carry 6 tonnes and is the only way for diggers and earthwork equipment to get into the Roaring Meg area.
Contractors had been working with various specialists to preserve and enhance the ecology and history of the unique Kawarau Gorge environment. Several species of protected skinks and geckos were endemic to the Kawarau Gorge environs and so lizard habitats had been developed by the trust’s contractors to protect the lizards during trail building.
Hundreds of native trees and shrubs had also been identified by specialists to avoid when trail building. Mitigation planting would ensure more native trees and plants would be beside the trail.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi was creating the trail around the Nevis Bluff and making good progress on that section of the track, linking into Gibbston Valley.
"As trustees we are excited about trail progress, and we are sure the biking community are keen to ride the newest trail in the region. However, we urge biking enthusiasts to wait until the official opening of the trail, as there are significant hazards during the construction phase. The landowners who have given us permission to build the trail over their land don’t need unauthorised people on their land until all construction has been finished."
It was hoped the trail would be officially opened towards the end of this year, he said.
The completion of the Kawarau Gorge Trail will create a 530km of continuous trail network across Queenstown and Central Otago and connecting through to Waihola. — APL
