MEDIA RELEASE

7 October 2016

Drop-in discussion on the He Ara Kotahi shared pathway and bridge project

A drop-in discussion will be held next week on the latest developments for the He Ara Kotahi shared pathway and bridge project.

The drop-in discussion is at the Esplanade Education Centre on Thursday 13 October, from 3.30 to 7pm.

He Ara Kotahi will link the city to the science research centres, Massey University and Linton Military Camp.

Council confirmed in August the 191 metre bridge across the Manawatū River will be built near the intersection of Ruha Street and Dittmer Drive.

“We’ll be applying for resource consents soon to allow the bridge project to go ahead. A series of technical reports are being prepared to support the application,” says He Ara Kotahi project chair Ray Swadel.

“They’ve looked at the impact of traffic on the neighbourhood – vehicle, cycle and pedestrian – along with parking, urban design and the visual impact of the bridge. We’ve also considered the ecological effects of the project.

“Our drop-in discussion will be a chance to share some of the draft findings.”

Tonkin and Taylor has been engaged to prepare the Council’s consent applications. Opus and Tonkin and Taylor are carrying out the technical assessments on Council’s behalf.

Mr Swadel says work on the pathway itself is progressing well.

“Our contractors have finished the first stage of the pathway on the left bank to the Turitea Stream, and they are now working to connect the pathway to Fitzherbert Bridge.”

He Ara Kotahi is a partnership between Horizons Regional Council, Massey University, the Palmerston North City Council, the New Zealand Army at Linton Military Camp, the NZ Transport Agency and Rangitāne.

The $10m project is part of the government’s $333m Urban Cycleways Programme. It has received $3m from this programme and $3.2 from the National Land Transport Fund.

ENDS

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