10 | Whangarei District Council: Te Kamo Shared Path T T Richard Loader Pathway project nearing completion In total the pathway spans 6 kilometres, and follows the path of the rail line. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Te Kamo Shared Path is part of Whangarei’s walking and cycling network that aims to expand and improve its cycling networks, improve the walkability of its neighbourhoods, support safer travel to school and provide low-emissions travel options. Running from almost the centre of Whangārei city to Te Kamo village, construction of the pathway commenced in 2016, and has been progressively built over five stages, with a sixth stage now in design. Currently in progress, the fifth stage commenced in November last year and extends the existing pathway by about one kilometre from Fisher Terrace at the bottom end of Te Kamo, and into Te Kamo village. In total the pathway spans 6 kilometres, and follows the path of the rail line providing a gentle climb and easy walking / cycling pathway. An additional project run in parallel with the shared pathway project, and separately funded, connects the path to Te Kamo Village and Kamo High School with road markings, kerbing, footpath widening and new lighting, and includes raised pedestrian crossings into the village. Funded by both NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), (53%), and Whangārei District rates (47%) $3.75 million has been budgeted for the fifth stage, while $1.9 million, fully funded from central government, has been budgeted for the Te Kamo village works. Nick Marshall, Team leader for Road Safety and Traffic Engineering for Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA), and Whangarei District Council’s project sponsor for the Te Kamo Shared Pathway, acknowledges that the project offers a number of social, safety and commercial benefits. “The pathway follows the quickest, easiest and most direct route to schools within the Te Kamo area and suburbs between Kamo and the City Centre. The kids used to walk on the railway line to get to school, which obviously placed them at considerable risk. “We have photos of 100 primary school kids literally walking down the railway line on a blind corner, with the imminent arrival of a goods train. So the development of this pathway was partly about providing safe and easy passage for the kids going to the schools in close proximity. There are three high schools, two intermediates and about six primary schools, drawing about 6000 pupils — a huge percentage of Whangārei Districts 100,000 population.” Another key driver for extending the shared pathway was to provide easier access for people entering Whangārei City each day to work, shop and play. “With Whangārei’s hour-glass geographic shape, there are not many road corridors that run north-south, and all of them are quite constrained in terms of the ability to build more traffic capacity. “Providing a walking/cycling path enables people to choose an alternative option for how they travel into the city. So we’re trying to pick up some of the commuters that live in Te Kamo and Tikipunga, which are our two biggest suburban catchments. Congestion relief is one of the social benefits of the shared pathway, but the biggest benefits are a combination of physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for the kids. There’s a mental well-being derived from riding or walking.” The installation of two 25-metre re-purposed bridges, crossing a small wetland area and the main shaft to the old Kamo coal mines formed a major part of the project’s fifth stage. Whangārei based BDX Group was engaged by Whangarei District Council to fully refurbish the two historic rail bridges and install them alongside SH1 north of Whangārei. “The bridges were originally constructed in 1903, and in use in Taumaranui until the early 2000s,” says Nick. “The works involve repairing damaged sections, installing a new deck, designing and fabricating a compliant handrail system, protective coatings and installation. “The bridges were lifted into place in two sections using a 400 tonne mobile crane in a single night.” Civil works for the project are being undertaken by Ventia, which has been successful in tendering for all five stages of the projects and has also undertaken a number of well-known infrastructure projects around the Whangārei district. Construction, subdivision work & roading maintenance. 0508 VENTIA (836 842) www.ventia.com BDX DELIVER INTEGRATED ENGINEERING, MAINTENANCE AND CONTRACTING SOLUTIONS FOR NORTHLAND. BDX GROUP ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT WHANGAREI DISTRICT COUNCIL WITH SPECIALIST ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION SERVICES ENGINEERING | CIVIL CONTRACTING | MAINTENANCE | MECHANICS KEEN TO WORK WITH BDX FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT? +64 9 430 2126 | info@bdx.nz
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