The council yesterday approved for public consultation a plan to finish the remaining sections of Portobello Rd in three years instead of 10, saving nearly $3 million.
The council would spend more money on the project in the next three years, to secure a higher rate of co-funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency, which will reduce its rate over the next nine years.
Widening to improve safety on the narrow and winding road should be complete by mid-2018.
The decision is likely to please the peninsula community, which was divided over which parts of the road should be done next.
Shared pedestrian and cyclist space will be added from Vauxhall to Harington Point.
The road would be safer, but also become a great asset to the city as a cycling attraction, councillors said.
Cr Neville Peat, who lives on the peninsula, said it was also great the community would not have to deal with road construction for 10 years.
Cr Andrew Noone said it would provide safer links between peninsula communities, and Cr Andrew Whylie said it would be a great cycle journey once linked to the successful west harbour shared path.
Cr Jinty MacTavish said approving this would be just the beginning of a ''really hard piece of work'' and doing it properly was ''absolutely critical'', affecting as little as possible the beauty and natural environment of the area.
Cr John Bezett sought, and received, confirmation from staff that the contractor would determine the sequence of the remaining work.
Mayor Dave Cull said the development of pedestrian and cycleways linked communities and people, whereas roads separated them.
''It's a huge boon not just to peninsula community, but the whole city in that regard.''
Cr Lee Vandervis also received support for a recommendation that staff work with potential contractors to accelerate provisions of local rock supplies, to lessen project costs.
