Closing the gap on the Waikanae Township to Expressway shared path

The Park Avenue shared path is a gap in the primary walking and cycling route from Waikanae Township-to-Expressway connection. It’s one of three cycleway projects from the 2024-34 Long-term Plan approved to build. 

The project involves building a 645-metre-long concrete path on the northern side of Park Avenue from near number 44 Park Ave to the Wrestling Club carpark driveway. 

The section of Park Avenue to the west of the project (from the intersection of Park Avenue with Te Moana Road to number 44 Park Ave) is an existing 1.5-metre-wide footpath which we plan to widen in the future, subject to funding. 

Construction began late April 2026 and will be finished around July 2026. Most of the work will occur on the berm, so construction will not have a big impact on Park Avenue traffic.

Benefits

As the last section of the Waikanae Township-to-Expressway connection to be sealed, the new section of shared path will improve the safety and connectivity for all user types including cycling, pedestrians, scooter users, mobility impaired and people with push chairs. 

Background

In 2021 residents shared their ideas with us on ways to make Park Avenue safer for pedestrians, cyclists and road users. 

Residents said traffic volumes and speeds were increasing, and some plants were too close to footpaths. Their suggestions to improve safety included creating a shared path on the north side of the street to separate cyclists from traffic, improving road crossings, and calming traffic. 

We reviewed the comments and developed a plan which includes a section of new shared path, road crossing improvements, and traffic calming measures. 

Trimming vegetation to make space for the shared path

An arborist assessment was undertaken with our contractor to review trees adjacent to the refined path alignment. This assessment confirmed that some macrocarpa trees will need to be removed due to their proximity to the path design (some roots would have impacted the path surface being level). While this outcome is not ideal, it enables the retention of the full hedge and ensures the long-term safety and durability of the shared path. 

For each tree we remove, we plant three native trees in more appropriate locations. 

Complementary works

The project includes three road crossing improvements across Park Avenue and two across the entrances to the Croquet and Wrestling clubs. 

At the same time, work to upgrade the Waikanae skatepark and play space is happening across the road. 

This project aligns with our speed management plan for pedestrian safety and connectivity.