Work under way on final section of Uni-Cycle

Construction is under way on the last part of a new cycleway linking the University of Canterbury with Christchurch’s city centre.

Contractors expect to have work finished on the Riccarton Bush section of the Uni-Cycle within six weeks.

Contractors Isaac Construction have begun working on the portion of the cycleway which will take cyclists through historic Riccarton Bush and past the grand Victorian homestead that was once home to Canterbury’s pioneering Deans family.

It is the last remaining link in the Uni-Cycle cycleway and will take about six weeks to complete.

The existing shared path at the Hinau St end of Riccarton Bush will be widened slightly and a new cycleway entrance created on Kahu Rd.

The new cycleway entrance on Kahu Rd will mean cyclists and pedestrians can stay clear of the main driveway used by people visiting Riccarton Bush and House by car.

Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board Chairman Mike Mora, who sits on the Riccarton Bush Trust, said it was great to see work under way on the final section of the Uni-Cycle route.

Riccarton Bush was a historically significant site for both Maori and Europeans and the Riccarton Bush Trust had a duty to protect it, but it was also keen to support safe cycling.

Historic Riccarton House was home to the pioneering Deans family.

“The cycleway through Riccarton Bush will give people safer travel options and also boost the profile of Riccarton House and its magnificent grounds. Hopefully people using the cycle path will choose to make it a destination for some quiet relaxation,’’ Mr Mora said.

During construction of the cycleway, cyclists and pedestrians will be able to use a temporary path through Riccarton Bush.

Work on the cycleway will be paused every Friday to ensure there is minimum disruption to the popular farmers’ market that is held in the grounds of Riccarton House every Saturday morning.

The Riccarton House restaurant, Local, will be open throughout the construction of the cycleway.