A price is expected to be finalised soon for an ambitious cycleway between Te Awa Kairangi Lower Hutt and Wellington.
File photo of Te Ara Tupua walking and cycling path. Photo: Supplied / NZTA
The 7km Ngauranga-to-Petone section of Te Ara Tupua is running two years behind its original opening date of 2023-24.
The budget approved by Waka Kotahi has already escalated from $182 million to $192m.
That is before a firmer price, and design, are agreed on between the agency and its alliance contract partners.
The Interim Project Alliance Agreement phase would result in the requirements being better known, the design further developed, and a price to deliver agreed on, the agency said.
"The price will be finalised and agreed soon."
The path alongside Wellington's busiest rail line for commuters and SH2 was "extremely challenging", which added to the complexity and cost, it said.
Cost blowouts on some cycleways, including the Petone-Melling part of Te Ara Tupua, have forced Waka Kotahi to look to defer some other projects till 2024-27.
Another, secondary part of the Ngauranga-to-Petone project has risen from $7.2m to $9.7m to cover fast-track consenting, site investigations, design, and setting up the alliance.