‘Some good cycling to be had’ on new trail
A NEW cycleway from Bannockburn to Cromwell is open, but winter conditions mean optimum riding is still some way off.
The $85,000 trail, which was started in May and completed in June, goes from the Bannockburn bridge to Barry Ave, in the centre of Cromwell.
The project was cofunded by the Central Otago District Council (CODC) and NZ Transport Agency, which provided 49% and 51% of the funding respectively, council executive manager infrastructure services Julie Muir said.
She said there had been no official opening of the trail, but the council had made an announcement on its Facebook page last week to explain the conditions of the trail — telling cyclists to ‘‘hold tight and there’ll be some good cycling to be had on this new track real soon’’.
Ms Muir said some parts of the trail were slightly boggy, because gravel surfaces became soft when they thawed after freezing.
But the conditions only occurred ‘‘for a very limited time’’, while thawing occurred.
‘‘It will be fine to use when the surface is frozen, or if there are a few warm days or a wind to dry it out.’’
Council chief executive Sanchia Jacobs said at the Cromwell Community Board meeting earlier this week the composite material used for the track was the same as used on cycleways nationwide and provided a ‘‘far superior’’ surface in the long run, and the trail just needed ‘‘a full cycle of seasons for it to settle’’.
Although some people had commented on the boggy conditions, the ‘‘vast majority’’ of feedback about the trail had been positive, Ms Jacobs and Ms Muir said.
Contractors will complete final work on the track surface and drainage channels in spring.