Construction on the next section of Wagga Wagga's new $12.8M cycleway network is expected to start next month after the Active Travel Plan project was approved by Council at its Ordinary Meeting tonight.
Council gave the green light to the final proposed routes which means more than 50 kilometres of cycleways will now be constructed across the city.
Work on the Red Hill Link and Bourke Street Link (4.5 kilometres) is planned to start in late August, following on from the network's Levee Link which is being built alongside levee bank upgrade works.
Council's Director Commercial Operations Caroline Angel said extensive consultation with the community in recent months has ensured the cycleway network will be a facility from which the city can greatly benefit.
"A great amount of work has gone into this project and we're confident the end result will provide Wagga Wagga with a network of cycleways that will improve the liveability and accessibility of the city, whilst promoting an active and healthy lifestyle," Ms Angel said.
Ms Angel said extensive community consultation for the project included seven public meetings, more than 1,600 letters sent out to residents along the routes, as well as numerous stakeholder and residents' meetings.
"Council received a lot of feedback on different elements of the project and sections of different links with a vast majority of feedback supporting the implementation of a cycleway network," Ms Angel said.
Much of the discussion focused on the Forest Hill Link and the potential to utilise the existing unused rail corridor. However, at this stage the corridor is not available to use, therefore an alternative route is being provided via Kyeamba Avenue, Ms Angel said.
It is also proposed that Council will move the Central Link from Fox Street to Murray Street allowing better access to the health precinct. This will be subject to Roads and Maritime Services installing lights at the Edward and Murray streets intersection.
