The news was given last night to the West Harbour Community Board the project was now estimated at about $25million, about double the figure announced early last year.
The NZ Transport Agency said because the cost had topped $20million, the agency had to go to an independent organisation to get a second price estimate to verify its estimate was correct.
The board also heard safety barriers for cars - which board members said could make State Highway 88 less safe for cyclists - were to be installed before the cycleway, contrary to a promise made.
The news infuriated the community board.
Board chairman Steve Walker said it was ''not often I'm lost for words through anger''.
The board had been told by the agency to expect good news on the cycleway, and the opposite had arrived.
He wondered if it meant the planning for the project would go on ''ad infinitum''.
''It's going to go down in the community like a tonne of bricks.
''We've waited so, so, so long.''
NZTA project manager Jason Forbes told the board he was ''not here with the good news I hoped I would have''.
The agency had finished its business case, a milestone towards getting funding for the project, but had recently found it had ''missed out a step'' - a second price estimate.
It was also working through a process with KiwiRail, which owned most of the land the cycleway would be on.
Asked by Mr Walker how long the independent estimate might take, Mr Forbes said that was ''variable''.
He expected it to be completed within three months.
It had only recently been discovered one needed to be done, and funding could not be sought until it was finished.
Asked how the project had risen to $25million, Mr Forbes said detailed design had shown it would cost more, with issues like more retaining structures found to be necessary.
The Otago Daily Times reported early last year the cost had risen to $12million, and Mr Walker said he heard earlier this year it was $15million.
Mr Forbes told the meeting the NZTA was ''definitely committed'' to the cycleway.
''I still believe it is inevitable.''
He also said work would be brought forward at five sites where rigid safety barriers would be installed.
Mr Walker responded the board had an ''implicit promise'' there would be no construction of safety barriers on State Highway 88 until the cycleway work began.
''It really concerns me you are now suggesting this is going to happen.''
Cyclists still used the road, and the barriers would make it less safe for them.
Mr Walker said last night he and Cr Aaron Hawkins would try to meet NZTA representatives next week to discuss the barriers.
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Comments
So the government could give a $500,000 Rolls Royce to all 10 people who want to ride from Pt Chalmers to Dunedin and save tax and rate payers $20 million. A stupid idea I agree, just a stupid as continuing to sponsor the lycra mob with their pipe dreams.
Add the costs of the tracks in the city, the dreams of tracks to Wingatui / Mosgiel and all the Peninsula dreams. Not hard to get close to $100 million. In a town of 100,000 people. This insanity needs to stop.
Right on Keith the lunacy has to stop.
Well said KeithMcC, been reading your comments on various topics since returning to Dun, and they are 99.9% of the time spot on again, it needs to stop, because it is NZTA funds it should go on other areas of roading in Dunedin.
Because you need to build roads for the traffic you want, not for the traffic you have. A dedicated cycleway would multiply number of users.
The waste of money on this green-left indulgence is nauseating. A project such as the cable car, which will generate jobs and tourism for the city will wait and wait while money is wasted on un-used cycle paths.
To be fair, I did see a cyclist out today, but I always wonder why any cyclist I ever see is always an old male with a grey beard.