New bike and walking paths being installed around Evans Bay are a double-win for the environment, providing the means to get about in climate-friendly ways and reducing waste by making use of recycled materials
Work is underway on the 780-meter section of new walking and biking paths on Evans Bay Parade between Weka Bay and Little Karaka Bay.
Brad Singh, the Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Manager, says this will make it safe and easy for people to ride, walk, and use public transport for everyday trips, which is key to rapidly cutting emissions.
The base layer that’s been used under the latest stretch of the new bike and footpaths in Weka Bay and Balaena Bay is 95 percent recycled concrete and asphalt millings, and only 5 percent rock.
Produced at the Wellington City Council owned Kiwi Point Quarry in Ngauranga Gorge, the mix uses clean used concrete, which might once have ended up in the landfill. Tests show it is as strong and suitable for this purpose as more traditional aggregate mixes, which are typically made from 100 percent quarried rock.
Singh says the recycled materials go through a crusher at the quarry, and the aggregate produced is virtually identical to rock-based alternatives.
“We’ve trialled it under footpaths in some other places around the city and saw this as an opportunity to make greater use of it.”
Contractor Downer has been working hard to get the new paths on the section between Weka Bay and Balaena Bay complete ahead of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The completion of this connection will make it easier for people to get around in low-carbon ways.
Information about the Evans Bay project is available online at transportprojects.org.nz.
