Cambridge pathway
What’s happening
In December, it was announced safe walking and cycling in Cambridge had been given a massive boost. Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency has invested close to $12.8 million in our district to offer more transport choices and help people opt safely out of cars. Of that, $7.2 million will be spent on a new shared pathway in Cambridge with an additional $3 million from Council funding.
We’re building a new pathway that will link existing paths, help children get to school and create safer, greener neighbourhoods for all of us.
The project will include building a two-laned pathway (for pedestrians and wheeled transport such as bikes and scooters). It will go down Grey Street and Clare Street to join the existing Hamilton Road pathway and will continue down Bryce Street to Duke Street, along Wilson Street to Victoria Bridge.
Detailed Cambridge pathway maps - (scheme plans, updated following first round of feedback)
Pathway construction
Construction is starting 11 October and is expected to take nine months to be completed. The works will be done in stages to minimise the disruption.
The streets that will be affected by construction
- Hamilton Road
- Bryce Street
- Alpha Street
- Duke Street
- Wilson Street
- Victoria Street, near the high-level bridge
Current works
The first stage of works will be on Hamilton Road and Bryce Street. It will start Wednesday 11 October and traffic management will be in place from Monday, 16 October.
Access to Bryce from Hamilton Road and Queen Street will be closed during this stage with resident only access.
Two-way traffic on Hamilton Road will be retained at all times.
The temporary bus stops will be on Hamilton Road between Hall Street and Bryce Street.
Map of the road closure during the works.
Cambridge pathway extension – Clare and Grey Street north consultation
In March this year, we asked for your feedback on the new Cambridge pathway and we used this feedback to finalise our plans. Thanks to funding from Waka Kotahi, we now have the opportunity to extend the pathway even further so it runs to Cambridge Middle School along Clare and Grey Street north.
This extended pathway will help children get to school safely and help slow traffic surrounding the Cambridge Middle School.
We have some ideas around how this could work best but we want your feedback before decisions are made.
Thank you to everyone who has provided their feedback on the Cambridge pathway extension on Clare Street and Grey Street. Consultation is now closed.
The detail
We are investing in safe walking, scootering, and cycling infrastructure in Cambridge to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle in Cambridge.
A shared pathway is planned to start on Grey Street outside Cambridge Middle School to connect with Hamilton Road pathway and be extended to Bryce Street. It will continue down Bryce Street to Duke Street and carry along Wilson Street until Victoria Bridge, with an additional pathway on Alpha Street to connect Te Awa River Ride pathway and the new pathway.
The project involves building a two-laned pathway (for pedestrians and wheeled transport such as cycles and scooters) along one side of each of the roads identified above.
This project has secured $7.2 million in funding from Waka Kotahi as part of their $350 million Transport Choices package which helps create greater transport choices for people across New Zealand.
Once consultation feedback has been analysed and changes have been, the final plans will be reported to the Service Delivery Committee in June 2023 and works are expected to begin July 2023.
Background
There has been a strong desire from our community to transition towards a transport model that supports alternative transport modes, such as walking and cycling. Residents of all ages and abilities want to be able to travel in our main urban areas safely and conveniently, without the need for a car. It also responds to strong government direction around climate change and specifically reducing carbon emissions.
This project is about making changes to streets so they are safer for all modes of transport to get around.
The Waipā District Council Long-Term Plan 2021-2031 includes an investment of over $10 million towards projects such as Cambridge Pathways. The funding from Waka Kotahi - NZ Transport Agency was part of its Transport Choices Package which is included in the Climate Emergency Response Fund.
A Governance Group for the project has been formed and meets regularly to establish a shortlist of priority options for Waipā’s walking and cycling network. A Reference Group has also been formed and given the opportunity to comment on the options. The role of these groups are to be champions of their towns and community groups, to share their opinions and point of views on cycle and pathways and advise how they believe it will impact their community.
The Governance Group has considered feedback from both the Reference Group and Community Boards, and at its meeting of 17 August 2022 made a decision around proceeding with the two projects at Kihikihi and Cambridge, which have been approved by the Council’s Service Delivery Committee.
Terminology
Bus Stop: a designated marked spot where a bus regularly stops for passengers to get on and off.
Shared pathway: A path provided for use by both cyclists and pedestrians, with motor vehicles being legally excluded.
Traffic calming: a range of techniques used to manage road users and the road environment to ensure speeds are appropriate to the local environment and the safety of other road users.
Roundabout: a road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it.
Cul de sacs: a street or passage that is closed for vehicular movement at one end.
Signalised crossing: A signalised crossing provides priority for cyclists and pedestrians through the use of traffic signals. Short periods of time are allotted to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road and vehicles travelling along the road.
Raised safety platform: elevated sections of the road that help reduce vehicle speed.
Media releases
- Construction kicks off for Cambridge’s new pathway, 10 October 2023.
- Pathway extension to help kids get to school safely, 18 September 2023.
- Green light for Cambridge walking and cycling path, 20 June 2023.
