An underpass is planned for State Highway 6 at Gibbston, connecting the Gibbston Valley Winery with the Queenstown Trail and future developments on land the company owns.
Gibbston Valley Wines Ltd (GVWL) and Gibbston Valley Station Ltd (GVSL) are seeking consent for earthworks and landscaping associated with the underpass.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has also lodged an application outlining a plan for its requirements, prepared at the request of the two companies.
The application states it would initially be for pedestrian and cyclists only.
It would be opened to vehicles later.
Gibbston Valley Station was granted consent in 2009 for a resort development and commercial centre.
The development would include a golf course, visitor accommodation, residential units, a health spa, and cafe on the north side of the highway.
In 2012 the winery company was granted consent for a visitor accommodation complex, including cottages, on the south side of the highway.
GVWL chief executive Greg Hunt said the companies began working on the underpass last year after recognising the growth and interest in bike tourism in the area.
It was initially contemplated as part of the resort development, and had been proposed nearer the site of the annual Gibbston Summer Winery Concert.
However, this year the wine company took over the running of Rabbit Ridge Bike Resort and realised ''we needed one closer to the winery''.
If approved, it was hoped to have stage one completed by next summer, and stage two could be completed by the following summer.
''My hope is that it's non-notified,'' Mr Hunt said.
''We are the landowner on the other side of the highway. It's a public good.''
The transport agency's application said land either side of the state highway would remain fenced so once the underpass was completed it would be used for all crossings in the area.
It would not significantly alter the existing contour of the site and it was considered consistent with planning and resource management requirements.
''Whilst underpasses to date are not a widespread feature of the state highway network, these facilities are nonetheless necessary for the integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable operation of the state highway system,'' the application said.
It said the agency would look closer at the details if its outline plan was approved.
The council did not have the discretion to approve or reject a development proposal based on an outline plan - its sole discretion was to request changes, the agency said.
The applicants sought a 10-year lapsing period for the first three stages given the ''high capital expenditure involved''.
Mr Hunt declined to say how much the project was expected to cost.
