PHOTO
Dunedin's cycleways, not counting the city's one-way cycle lanes, have cost $4.7 million in the past two and a-half years.
The city's transport manager says the work is forging connections that will serve Dunedin well in future.
That includes the recently opened Leith Bridge that simplifies part of the route between Port Chalmers and the city, a route the NZ Transport Agency plans to complete by 2022.
The Dunedin City Council plans to spend another $20 million on cycle infrastructure in the next 10 years.
Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said the 2016-17 budget of $975,000 included $380,000 for business case preparation and design for the central city urban cycleway package and $595,000 for the Portobello Rd cycleway.
The central city urban cycleway includes Portsmouth Dr and harbour improvements, the new Leith Bridge, Anzac Ave work and the connection through the rail corridor.
The $920,00 spent during the 2017-18 year included $870,000 for central city urban cycleway implementation, a $20,000 business case and $25,000 for the South Dunedin network.
''The big spend this year has been the delivery of that urban cycleway package,'' Mr
Saunders said.
''That's really trying to provide those connections for the harbour circuit, which we think will be a really great asset for the city.''
Work on the Otago peninsula connection was under way, on the road from Vauxhall.
NZTA was not far off going to tender for its extension from St Leonards to Port Chalmers.
''We think this package of urban cycle work is that missing piece to provide a really good experience around the harbour.
''That's been the focus of the spend this year, and will continue to the middle of next year.''
Some of this year's budget included the resealing of the Portsmouth Dr cycleway.
''The feedback we had from users was the level of service on Portsmouth Dr was not great.''
Tree roots were making the surface rough, and it was not the safest surface.
The resurfacing improved what was a good connection for cyclists, pedestrians and runners.
''It's a really busy stretch of road for us.''
For the future, Mr Saunders said the council had recently sent its cycle infrastructure programme to the NZTA.
In its 10-year plan, the council has set aside $20 million for improving and adding to the city's cycleways.
Although a track running through the former Chain Hills rail tunnel linking Mosgiel to the rest of Dunedin was the most ambitious addition to the city's cycle network, the programme included connections from the city to St Clair and improved cycle infrastructure in Northeast Valley.
The Anzac Ave part of the connection to the Leith Bridge and beyond was complete, and Mr Saunders said staff were in ''positive'' discussions with KiwiRail about connecting that section to the bridge.
At present the path from the bridge leads to the corner of Wickliffe and Fryatt Sts.
The plan was to run it alongside the railway line, through the council's St Andrew St car park to the railway station.
That would allow users to cycle from Port Chalmers to the railway station on a shared path.