Work on Waipa¯ roads, footpath
Summer around the Waipa¯ district will be a busy one with work underway on planning for major improvements to roads and footpaths.
Waipa¯ District Council is preparing for seal extensions, new footpaths and new pedestrian crossings as part of the budget confirmed under the 10-Year Plan.
Road corridor manager Bryan Hudson says seal extensions are planned for Waikoha Rd (from Te Pahu¯ Rd), John Hewitt Drive (entrance to Waipuke Reserve) and Wiseman Rd at a cost of about $500,000 for all three roads.
The work does not attract a subsidy from the NZ Transport Agency — all costs for any seal extension work is paid by council.
Tenders for the work will be let shortly with the intention, weather permitting, to complete the majority of sealing work before Christmas.
Several new footpaths are also in the pipeline. The footpaths, some joining new subdivisions to other urban areas, are planned for Browning St (from Carlyle St to Tennyson), Hemans St, Fred Parsons Cr, Grey St and Vogel St in Cambridge.
In Te Awamutu footpaths are planned for Swarbrick Dr and Rewi St.
“Long-term, council is aiming to have footpaths on at least one side of all urban roads across the district, but that will take some time to achieve given other budget priorities,” Bryan says.
New pedestrian crossings are in the works, with construction to be staged over at least two financial years. New crossings are planned at high-use locations in Pirongia including outside The Nest Cafe in Franklin St, McClure St (north of Crozier intersection) and Crozier St.
In Te Awamutu pedestrian crossings are planned for Park Rd (near Hazelmere intersection) and Cambridge Rd (east of Mitre 10 Mega) Victoria St (between Queen St and Alpha St) in Cambridge.
Early estimates put the potential cost at $300,000.
The pedestrian crossings will receive a 51 per cent subsidy from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA)
Waipa¯ District is working with NZTA on various safety improvements for State Highway 3, which includes a¯ pedestrian crossing in Ohaupo¯. However, no final decisions have been made as to a location or timeframe.