Further funding has been approved by Palmerston North City Council to meet the additional costs of completing the He Ara Kotahi pathway and bridges.

The approval of further funding has ensured there are no delays to completing the project, by mid-May.

“While the cost of this project is more than the original estimate, the city is still getting great value for its investment,” says Mayor Grant Smith. “Palmerston North will have an asset with a value of $19m, that has only required an input from the ratepayers of less than $7m. Industry benchmarking of the project, has also indicated we’re achieving great value for money.”

“What we should be getting excited about is the intrinsic value our community will benefit from the pathway. I’ve heard personnel at Linton Camp are purchasing bikes in readiness to commute to work, and the same is already happening at Massey’s campus.

Recreational users are also going to be enjoying what the pathway will offer them.

He Ara Kotahi is a 7.6km shared pathway with a major bridge over the Manawatu River and four smaller bridges crossing tributories. It will provide pedestrians and cyclists a direct pathway to Massey University, Food HQ Science campus and Linton Camp.

Negotiations are still being held with external funders to offset some of the additional costs. These will be made public in the very near future.

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