Wellington shared cycle path and seawall reaches milestone
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
Wellington and the Hutt Valley are closer to having a safe and resilient path to protect the rail corridor and State Highway 2 with the Ngā Ūranga to Pito-One project reaching a major milestone.
Contractors recently connected Karanga landing, opposite the BP station, to Petone and there is now one complete thoroughfare.
The project features a new coastal edge protecting the road and the rail corridor, which will also provide a safe and attractive walking and cycling link between Wellington and Lower Hutt.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi regional manager Jetesh Bhula said the seawall and shared path offered many benefits.
“We want to make it possible for people to move around our region in more ways, and contribute to healthier communities. Right now, there is no safe walking and cycling route between Wellington and Lower Hutt.”
The pathway would make it possible for people to change how they travel, Bhula said. Walking, running, biking or scooting also means lower emissions from transport and less pressure on roads, buses and trains.
By 2030, he estimated people would make more than 2100 trips by bike on the path each weekday, as well as 360 walking or running trips and around 290 trips on e-scooters or similar devices.
The pathway would also be a major asset in a major earthquake. In a disaster that blocked the road or rail lines, the path would act as a recovery route between Wellington and Lower Hutt.
It is further out from the hills and cliffs than the highway, meaning it is less likely to be damaged by slips caused by heavy rain or earthquakes.
Vehicles like ambulances or fire trucks would be able to use the path.
The project, which started in March 2023 with an initial budget of $312 million, had its budget increased by $36.8m in September and Bhula said the extra funding would allow the project to be completed in 2026.
More about the project
The shared path is 4.5km long with a 5m sealed surface on the seaward side of the railway line.
Sloping embankments known as revetments, built of either boulders or concrete armour units, will protect the shared path, road and rail line from erosion by waves. The design allows for it to be built on to in the future to adapt to climate change and the rising harbour level.
The project is part of a bigger project, known as Te Ara Tupua, which will eventually make it possible to safely cycle/walk from Wellington to Eastbourne.
6800 concrete 2.6 tonne “Xblocs” will be used to hold back the sea.
2700 cubic metres of concrete will be poured for the seawall.
New Zealand smallest penguin, kororā, are living and breeding on the construction site.