Further progress is being made on the Schools to Pool active travel route with tenders now being invited for stages two and three of the project.

Once complete, Schools to Pool will feature a 4.5km cross-town link with a three-metre-wide shared pathway that connects Holy Family Catholic School, Wānaka Primary School, and Mount Aspiring College with the Wānaka Recreation Centre.

Queenstown Lakes District Council property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the tender for the second and third stages of the project is expected to be awarded in August, with construction expected to begin in early September.

“With the signalised crossings on Aubrey Road and Ballantyne Road now operational, our next stages of work include the construction of a pathway running from Kelly’s Flat Recreation Reserve near Aubrey Road up to Wānaka Primary School and Mount Aspiring College,” he said.

“The pathway will then continue through Lismore Park to link with Hedditch Street.”

Tony said the project was focused on making small changes to Wānaka’s streets and the way they’re used, making it easier for people to embrace cycling or walking as a means of travel.

“By making more safe, well-designed active travel options available, we can encourage more people to choose walking and cycling as ways to get around, which will help reduce emissions and create a lasting success for Wānaka’s community.”

Additional work will be undertaken as part of the project, including a raised safety platform and pedestrian refuge island installed on Plantation Road; a raised safety platform installed on Hedditch Street; and ‘traffic calming’ exercises on Rata Street, with four raised platforms to be added on the street to slow traffic and upgrades to its intersection with Aubrey Road.

During construction access will be maintained for most, if not all, residents and businesses living near construction of the route, but QLDC will contact those likely to be affected by these works in advance, Tony said.

The project is funded by the Transport Choices package, part of the Waka Kotahi Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) programme.

PHOTO: Wānaka App