Image of one of the bridges on the 7.6km He Ara Kotahi pathway which connects cyclists and pedestrians between Palmerston North and Linton Military Camp, Massey University and Food HQ. The name means a pathway that brings people together.
There are five bridges along the path. He Ara Kotahi from the Victoria esplanade and over the Manawatu River is 190m long. Turitea Bridge is the next closest to the city, followed by Farm Bridge. Both are 36 metres long and have three piles anchored 15 metres into the ground. The 10 metre long Greenwoods Bridge is towards the Linton end of the path. It was built in Horowhenua and trucked in for installation. This bridge connects to a raised boardwalk which lets you walk in the canopy of native trees. The last, Kahutarawa Bridge, is a suspension bridge like the the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. It is 45 metres long and connects the pathway to Linton Military Camp.
The project was a partnership between Palmerston North City Council, Massey University, Rangitāne, Horizons Regional Council, the New Zealand Army at Linton Military Camp and the New Zealand Transport Agency. NZTA funded $3 million of the $14.6 million cost of the project through the Urban Cycleway Programme. The remainder of the cost was split between the National Land Transport Fund, administered by NZTA, and Council. Powerco also contributed $500,000.
