Construction of the Hauraki Rail Trail is currently 41% complete. Construction is 'cranking' on the Hauraki Rail Trail with some 35km of Trail surfaced and completed, 35 bridges in place or under construction and some 60km of fencing completed.

As for time lines, we hope to have Paeroa to Te Aroha section open to ride by the end of February/early March as with Paeroa to Karangahake which will link to Waikino.

Paeroa to Thames still has some 12 to 15 weeks work left and construction of the final section from Waikino to Waihi is scheduled to start after Winter.

Tempting though it is, cyclists are asked to stay off the unopened sections of the Rail Trail until advised it is safe to ride. 

The HRT team is grateful to the farmers and adjacent landowners for their tremendous support and co-operation during the construction and the consultation phase of the cycleway.

Grand Opening date announced below.

Paeroa to Te Aroha

The 20km leg from Paeroa to Te Aroha is all but complete except for the barriers and signs at key crossing points.

This section should be opened by early March, 2012.

Paeroa to Karangahake

The all important link from Paeroa into Karangahake is making good progress and should be open by early March. The track is mostly complete, and fencing and safety structures are still to be installed. There has been some interesting engineering and constructive issues to deal with, such as drainage and construction in a very swampy section west of Karangahake which has slowed progress, but overall the build is going very well.

Work is still underway to identify a route from Waikino to Waihi.  

Thames to Paeroa

This section requires 18 new bridges to be built. Two large swing bridges are being built allowing cyclists to cross the Kirikiri and Puriri Streams, these bridges are 72 and 55 metres respectively. A larger 75m multispan bridge is also under construction over the Kurere Canal. As these bridges are building sites, there is no public access to or across them.
An underpass was incorporated into the building of the new Kopu Bridge, providing cyclists with a safe, easy way to cross under SH25. A cycle-path linking this to a small bridge on the rail trail has already been completed.

Track building and fencing will begin from  February 2012, onwards and be undertaken in sections between Paeroa - Hikutaia – Puriri – Kopu – Thames.

Track construction is now underway between Paeroa and Kopu, and should be completed mid-April. (weather permitting)

Warnings

Until the sections of track have been officially opened we are asking the following:
•    Please keep of the track and bridges to ensure your safety.
•    Please keep stock of the track to ensure their safety.
Dogs, horses and motorbikes are not permitted on the cycleway at any stage.

Grand Opening

Planning is under way for a Grand Opening of the trail in early 2012. Watch this space for more info!