Te Mata Rd near Havelock North is the latest tentacle of the iWay walking and cycling network which will continue to expand over the next couple of years.
Construction of the new pathway along Te Mata Rd, once completed, will be a limesand track on both sides of the road linking with the Tuki Kitchen and the Landscapes ride along the Tukituki River.
Hastings District Council's sustainable transport manager Owen Mata said the route to and from Havelock North was becoming more popular with cyclists.
"And to help keep riders safe, there are plans to reduce the speed limit for vehicles travelling along this section of the road to 70 km/h," he said.
Hastings deputy mayor and iWay advocate Cynthia Bowers said future iWay extensions, as part of phase two of the project, included a second pathway along Havelock Rd between the village and Hastings city.
The initial design and consultation work for the pathway along the southern side of Havelock Rd was about to go out to tender. Construction was planned to start in 2015 but would be influenced by consultation on the initial design.
The iWay pathway on the southern side of Havelock Rd was completed in 2012.
Other major additions to the iWay network which in the planning stages include crossings on SH50 leading into Flaxmere, a clip on to the Chesterhope Bridge to help link Hastings and Napier.
The New Zealand Transport Agency confirmed $10 million for stage two of the iWay network development. Stage one included $2.1m from council and $4.3m from the NZTA.
Cr Bowers said she also supported Central Hawke's Bay District Council's request to develop a cycle pathway from Havelock North south to Waipawa.
The CHB council also wanted to build another link between Waipawa and Waipukurau.For future plans for the iWay network visit: http://www.iway.org.nz/progress and click on Future Plans or Current Progress.