A proposed underpass linking Clyde township with the Otago Central Rail Trail has missed out on national land transport funding, but those behind the project hope it will move higher up the list of priorities.
The Central Otago District Council has supported moves to build an underpass beneath State Highway 8 at Clyde for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
The project is listed as a "possible" on the national land transport programme (NLTP) for the next three years, the design costing $50,000 and the construction estimated to cost $463,500.
New Zealand Transport Agency Otago-Southland regional director Bruce Richards said funding nationally for these types of projects was "heavily oversubscribed" for the next three years.
Agency highways staff had done some further work that should lift the funding profile of the Clyde underpass, he said.
"Even if it is of a high enough profile to put forward, it still has to compete against other equally worthy projects around the region, and there is not sufficient funding within this three-year NLTP to progress every project."
The chairman of the Otago Regional Transport Committee, Stephen Woodhead, said although the project was not approved, all was not lost.
"I'm feeling, from the language I've heard from the New Zealand Transport Agency staff, reasonably hopeful that it will occur within the next three years," he said.
Central Otago District Council roading manager Julie Muir said although there was no funding this time for the project, it was good news that it was listed in the national land transport programme.
Clyde School principal Doug White said with the recent publicity given to the plans for a national cycleway, he had been hopeful the Government would allocate more transport funding to projects such as the Clyde underpass, which would benefit cyclists and pedestrians.
"That section of road has been a hazardous crossing for some time and with the natural flow of people to and from the town to the Clyde end of the rail trail, we need a safer crossing there," he said.
