Work to start on first phase of City to Sea Pathway

Friday, 14 June 2024

The first phase of Christchurch’s long-awaited City to Sea Pathway will get under way next month.

The City to Sea Pathway is an 11km walking and cycling path following the course of the Ōtākaro Avon River from the city to New Brighton.

The pathway will be constructed in three stages, with the first $7.6 million portion running from Fitzgerald Ave to Snell Bridge.

A city council spokesperson said improved access to the Fitzgerald Ave crossing would be considered as part of an upcoming bridge renewal project.

“The Fitzgerald Avenue bridge is scheduled to be renewed in five to 10 years. Initial investigations indicated that improving this crossing was likely to be expensive, so we have opted to retain the current crossing, rather than spending money on improvements that would be removed relatively quickly,” they said.

The City to Sea Pathway’s lighting - energy efficient LED lamps on timer sensors - will be “Dark Sky” compliant, to reduce the impact on the area’s insects, birds and fish. After a cut-off time, the lamps will dim and only pulse up in sections that are in use.

A low-carbon asphalt will be trialled which, if successful, would be used in subsequent sections. About 50,000 natives will be planted along the pathway and riverbanks.

The design incorporates three crossings at Stanmore, Swanns and Gayhurst roads.

Another footbridge, designed with Canterbury University students, will be built at the closed section of Dallington Tce, near Robson Ave.

“The community [is] really looking forward to using safer and smoother pathways,” red zone manager Dave Little said in a statement.

Existing power poles along the route will be removed and reused as play elements.

The contract has been awarded to Selwyn District Council-owned Corde, which expects to finish the work early next year.

Construction of the eastern portion of the pathway is expected to follow, starting next summer.