Schools to pool active travel route
Construction of the fourth and final stage of the Schools to Pool active travel route is now underway.
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About the project
Active travel is an integral part of providing an accessible and safe transport network in Wānaka.
Our proposed Schools to Pool footpath upgrades will create and encourage the use of shared, safer spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and micro mobility users. Once complete, the three-metre-wide shared pathway will connect Holy Family Catholic School, Wanaka Primary School, and Mount Aspiring College with Wānaka Recreation Centre providing a safe, 4.5km cross-town link.
Construction of the pathway will be broken up into four stages, with the first stage of installing signalised pedestrian crossings on Aubrey Road and Ballantyne Road already completed.
The Schools to Pool route will make small, quick and effective changes to our streets and the way they’re used, making it easier to embrace cycling or walking as a means of travel and creating a more sustainable environment to live, work, and play in Wānaka.
More safe, well-designed and low-carbon travel options available means more people choosing to walk and cycle in town, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a better future.
This route is just one part of a range of upgrades that will contribute to walkable neighbourhoods and safer, greener, and healthier school travel in and around Wānaka.
Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Schools to Pool route were funded by Waka Kotahi NZTA’s Transport Choices package.
What's the latest?
Wednesday 17 April 2024:
Work has started on Stage 4 of the Schools to Pool active travel route and the section of pathway running along Ballantyne Road and up to the signalised crossing near the intersection with Golf Course Road.
From Monday 22 April 2024, Hedditch Street will be closed to through traffic between SH84 and Little Street for crews to deliver part of the pathway, drainage improvements, and a new raised safety platform.
Stages of work
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Construction of signalised pedestrian crossings on Ballantyne Road and Aubrey Road was completed on Wednesday 21 June 2023.
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Work to construct shared pathway from Kelly’s Flat through Wanaka Primary School, connecting with Mount Aspiring College and running to Lismore Park is nearly complete.
Stop/go is currently operating outside Mount Aspiring College on Plantation Road as we work to build speed tables and finish off final sections of the pathway.
Parking
Parking will be unavailable along Plantation Road near the construction site during this time.
Important information for students
Because Plantation Road can be very busy before and after school, we’re encouraging parents to pick up and drop off school children along Kings Drive, where kids can then access the back entrance to the College.
Traffic management controllers will be working to ensure traffic flows as easily as possible and pedestrians are kept safe. Please follow all instructions when moving through the construction site.
School buses will pick up and drop off students for Mount Aspiring College in the same area as usual.
We expect to have this work completed by mid-to-late February 2024.
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Work to construct a shared pathway from Plantation Road, running through Lismore Park to Hedditch Street near its intersection with Little Street is now complete.
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Construction of Stage 4 of the Schools to Pool active travel route will see the completion of the three-metre-pathway linking children, families, and commuters between Wānaka schools and the Recreation Centre.
Stage 4 will see the pathway connect with existing sections in Lismore Street, before running down Hedditch Street to cross State Highway 84 (SH84), before heading up Ballantyne Road to the signalised crossing near Golf Course Road.
As part of these works, new raised safety platforms will be installed on Hedditch Street near its intersection with SH84, on Ballantyne Road near its intersection with SH84, and on the small section of Ardmore Street near Wanaka Golf Course, with an additional signalised crossing to be installed on SH84.
Click here for a map of Stage 4 of the Schools to Pool pathway.
Ballantyne Road pathway works:
Work has already started on the section of pathway running along Ballantyne Road adjacent to Wanaka Golf Course and up to the signalised crossing near the intersection with Golf Course Road.
Part of this work will include reshaping the strip of land between the new pathway and Ballantyne Road, and lining it with rocks to help with stormwater.
Hedditch Street pathway works:
Construction on the Hedditch Street portion of the pathway begins on Monday 22 April, with work in the area to include drainage improvements and a new raised safety platform on Hedditch Street near its intersection with SH84.
For these works to be delivered safely and efficiently, Hedditch Street will need to be closed to through traffic between SH84 and Little Street from Monday 22 April, allowing crews to complete the safety platform and drainage improvements first.
During this time, resident and emergency access will be available from Little Street.
Access will then be reinstated to and from SH84 for residents in the area while works continue on the pathway until Friday 17 May.
On street parking will be limited while Hedditch Street is closed. Rubbish collections will continue, but bins within the closure area must be placed on the northern side of the street during this time.
Click here for a map of the closure area.
SH84 pathway works:
Dates are still to be confirmed for construction of the section of Stage 4 which will see a signalised crossing over SH84, connecting the shared pathway from Hedditch Street to the southern side of Ballantyne Road.
Please note: Depending on deliver timeframes, some of the raised safety platforms may be constructed after the winter sealing season has finished.
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The intersection of Aubrey Road and Rata Street in Wānaka is now open for vehicles.
Work to upgrade the intersection and improve safety in the area is nearly complete, with some minor shoulder closures expected over the next week while crews tidy up the site and install a new streetlight. A big thank you to residents and regular users of Aubrey Road for your patience throughout the project.
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What to expect
As with any large construction project, some disruption is likely while work is underway to construct the Schools to Pool active travel route and improvements to Rata Street in Wānaka. Closures to roads, traffic management and temporary footpath closures will be required to complete portions of the project.
There may also be additional truck movement into, out of and around construction sites.
All work within or near schools is scheduled to be completed during school holiday periods to help minimise potential disruption to students.
Construction timings
Stage 2:
Finishing touches are being made to the section of pathway connecting Mt Aspiring College with Wānaka Primary School.
Stage 3:
Crews have completed asphalting sections of the path in Lismore Park and construction of a speed table and adjoining footpaths at the intersection of Hedditch Street and Little Street.
Stage 4:
Work has already started on the section of pathway running along Ballantyne Road adjacent to Wanaka Golf Course and up to the signalised crossing near the intersection with Golf Course Road.
Construction on the Hedditch Street portion of the pathway begins on Monday 22 April and is expected to be completed by Friday 17 May 2024.
Dates are still to be confirmed for construction of the section of Stage 4 which will see a crossing over SH84, connecting the shared pathway from Hedditch Street to the southern side of Ballantyne Road.
Working with you
Maintaining access for residents and businesses living near construction of the Schools to Pool route is important to the delivery of this project, and we are committed to working closely with those affected by these works.
We’ll be in regular communication with affected residents and businesses, and well in advance of construction dates and developments they need to know about. If you live or operate a business along the proposed Schools to Pool route and have any concerns or questions about the construction, please get in touch:
Lachy Sutherland
Project Manager - Fulton Hogan Ltd
027 263 3141
lachy.sutherland@fultonhogan.com