The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says the first section of resurfacing work being carried out as part of a $350,000 upgrade of State Highway 88 (SH88) along Anzac Avenue has been completed.
The Frederick St to Leith Bridge section has just been finished with work on the St Andrew St to Frederick St section starting early next week (weather permitting). Both sections are being paved and will link to the new Frederick St Intersection at the start of the new SH 88 Bypass around the Stadium. This intersection should be completed within two weeks.
NZTA Area Manager Roger Bailey says the upgrade of this section of SH88 has been scheduled so the work will tie in with the design and construction of the new Frederick St intersection at the start of the SH 88 Bypass.
Dedicated on-road cycle lanes will be provided between Frederick St and St Andrew St and ultimately link in with those on SH1 on Castle St. “This is a key step in creating a continuous cycle link between SH88, the city centre and the eastern side of Otago Harbour. Anzac Avenue is a designated cycle route in the Dunedin City Council’s Cycling Strategy,” Mr Bailey said.
The work will include the removal of about 40 all day parking spaces on Anzac Avenue between St Andrew to St Frederick for a new cycle lane, but this will be largely off set by the creation of 35 new parking spaces being between Frederick St and the Leith Bridge. Mr Bailey said the NZTA is working to make the new parks available as soon as possible, and all will be in place by the time state highway traffic is diverted onto the new stadium bypass in June.
The changes along Anzac Avenue have been designed in close consultation with the Dunedin City Council who has given their full support to the project, Mr Bailey added.
Changes to footpaths in the area over the next few months will see some section become shared cycleway/footpaths to cater for less experienced or younger cyclists who do not want to use the on-road cycle lane.
