A study into how a cycling walkway will best fit on Nelson’s Rocks Rd has been confirmed.
The NZ Transport Agency and Nelson City Council confirmed the study – which will begin any day – last week and will look at the different walking and cycling options for the road that links the city centre to Tahunanui beach along the waterfront.
Nelson mayor Aldo Miccio hopes the study will come out with an exciting addition to the city.
“It’s something that is really important to a lot of Nelsonians, to improve the accessibility for Nelson people to use that waterfront. It’s well regarded as the jewel in Nelson’s crown, as one of the most iconic waterfronts that we have in this country. Currently we’re not served very well by the cycling and walking facility that we have there.”
NZTA regional director Jenny Chetwynd says the study will not investigate clearways or three-laning along Rocks Rd as options.
“Nelson has a thriving walking and cycling culture, and a new pedestrian and cycle facility will help to foster that enthusiasm. Through this investigation we can identify the best way to incorporate a facility into this corridor that will provide safe and efficient use of this important transport corridor for everyone, however they choose to travel,” she says.
The council has already set aside around $1 million for the project and NZTA around $6 million.
It is expected to be finished in around two and a half years and will see the two current cycle lanes put together with the footpath to create a four metre wide cycling walkway.
Aldo says the cycling walkway will link in with the Maitai walkway which will run from Trafalgar St, through the port and to Haven Rd, where the Rocks Rd facility will start.
The goal is for the cycling walkway to be four to five metres wide all the way along but Aldo says there will be some places where that will not be possible.
“It will be a massive improvement on what it currently is. Now we have 1, 2 to 2 and a half metres and 90 per cent of that 2.5 kilometre road should be able to fit a four to five metre wide cycling and walkway.”
