Stage One Underway
Construction of the 1.5km first stage of the Dunedin Tunnels Trail is set to begin next week and is due for completion in October.
During construction, the tunnel and surrounding area will remain closed to the public with a possible opening celebration for the public to be announced once the first stage is completed.
The initial stage is all off road, running from Gladstone Road North, along a disused rail alignment, through the Chain Hills Tunnel and a few hundred metres beyond. It will form a return trip for pedestrians and cyclists. The plan in the long term is to continue the trail to Fairfield, Abbotsford Road and Green Island through the Caversham Tunnel and into Dunedin city.
Dunedin City Council Infrastructure Services Committee Chairperson Councillor Jim O’Malley says, “This first stage is fully funded by the DCC with a $1.8million budget. Approximately, $400,000 has been used for design, consents and land purchase, and the remainder will be used for construction and to progress stage one of the trail as far as possible. We’ll then work with the Trust so they can implement the next stages.
“People will get to experience the historic Chain Hills Tunnel, opened in 1875, and some lovely regenerating bush. This section has quite a different character than the proposed later stages.”
The work involves construction of an unsealed trail, drainage works, fencing, installation of seats, plantings, handrails, some retaining and signs. Some preparation work on existing infrastructure in the tunnel has already been undertaken.
The DCC is developing the trail in partnership with the Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust (DTTT) under a Memorandum of Understanding.
Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust Chairperson Brent Irving says, "It is fantastic to finally get something underway. We have been working towards this since the early 2000s. The potential for this trail is significant. The goal is to push through so commuting or recreational riders and walkers can move safely from Dunedin to Fairfield and on to the Taieri or vice versa.
“The wider, medium-term objective is to have a trail from Queenstown right through to Dunedin City and up the coast with various other Trusts and groups working on different sections. Dunedin will become part of the hugely successful Shared Path Cycleway network across the region and the country.”
Dunedin City Council General Manager Climate and City Growth Scott MacLean says, “While we know it’s super exciting to have this section of the Dunedin Tunnels Trail underway, we ask people to wait until it is fully completed to visit to help our contractors get through the work as quickly and safely as possible.
“Once it’s completed, we’ll also be asking people not to move beyond the end of the constructed trail. While it may be tempting to explore further, unformed sections of the trail, it would mean going on to private land or rail corridor and may impact our ability to negotiate access for the remainder of the trail.”