Work is scheduled to begin this week on continuing the Travers Rd walkway construction in Te Kauwhata, with a likely two-week timeframe.
The provision of a walkway around this very popular circuit of approximately 5km was initially started and funded by the Te Kauwhata Community Committee more than a decade ago, in response to increasing numbers of locals using it as a handy fitness circuit..
It began as a small metalled pathway initially running from Te Kauwhata Rd down Travers Rd. It was to improve safety for the number of pedestrians, as well as children walking to school where winter fog often created safety and visibility issues.
Over the years the footpath has been upgraded to a wide concrete walkway, ending just past the top of the hill near Moorfield Road.
This next section will run from near Orchard Rd to connect up with Wayside Road, providing a safer environment for the many walkers, runners, dog walkers, mums with prams and kids on bikes.
The original plans were intended to bypass the very busy Te Kauwhata Rd from the roundabout, heading instead into the Waikare subdivision down Bragato Rd, also providing a shortcut from Wayside Rd to Travers Rd. Until the proposed subdivision along Te Kauwhata Rd is created, it is not clear whether this will also have a full footpath as well.
John Cunningham, retiring chair of the TK Community Committee says this walkway is a good example of how the community committee can create small but meaningful improvements for the community. “We appreciate the excellent walkways around Lakeside, and this walkway- along with others we have planned such as the Whangamarino wetland walkway- all add up to providing safer places for the community to exercise and enjoy the outdoors in Te Kauwhata.”
