Te Awa River Ride project director Jennifer Palmer and project manager Andrew Roche take time out at a reclaimed Waikato River beach and picnic area midway between Horotiu and Fonterra's Te Rapa factory.
Te Awa River Ride project director Jennifer Palmer and project manager Andrew Roche take time out at a reclaimed Waikato River beach and picnic area midway between Horotiu and Fonterra's Te Rapa factory.
Another link in the 70km Te Awa River Ride opens next month.
The 3km Te Rapa to Horotiu section, featuring glorious river views and a beach-style rest area, exits at the Horotiu Bridge.
The $1.5 million concrete and boardwalk walking, running and cycling path will be opened on December 14near Fonterra's Te Rapa dairy factory site.
Te Awa River Ride project director Jennifer Palmer says the next stage of the ride will extend the pathway to Ngaruawahia - hopefully by the end of next year.
She says the new section, with its 3m-wide concrete pavements and boardwalks over challenging areas, will track the Waikato River past the rear of the Fonterra dairy factory, open up the Mangaharakeke Pa and eventually create economic opportunities.
It links the city river path network from Pukete and Meadowview Lane, along the river, past the Equestrian Centre and the Fonterra site, under new expressway roading and through a beach-style picnic area to emerge by the Horotiu Bridge.
Through careful planning and the use of innovative technical applications, the track is accessible to all ages, disabled and wheelchair users.
Eventually the river ride will cover 70km of leisure tracks from Horohora to Ngaruawahia.
Project manager Andrew Roche says the task of main contractor Livingstone Builders was made easier by the great co-operation of landowners, residents and local councils.
He says some of the river bank terrain required imaginative work to allow user-friendly pathway construction.
"Eighty to ninety per cent of the section is concrete - a good wide track most of it with easy contour."
The trail is being overseen by Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust comprising Simon Perry, Neil Richardson, Mark Ingle, Julian Williams, cyclist Sarah Ulmer and Rob Waddell.
Olympic gold medallist Ulmer will be at the section's December 14, 11am official opening when the public can walk portions of the new Waikato Expressway, as well as the latest part of the Waikato River trail.
