A passing shower that drenched the Omokoroa cycleway sod turning ceremony was passed off as good luck and a blessing, as a transport minister, two mayors and assorted Transport Agency officials, councillors and staff huddled under a tent.

The ceremony at the Tinopai Reserve was delayed until the rain eased and Simon Bridges, Ross Paterson and Stuart Crosby dug their obligatory spadesful of dirt, before the reserve was abandoned in favour of the Omokoroa Boat Club for a cup of tea and speeches.

Transportation Minister Simon Bridges, Mayor Stuart Crosby and Mayor Ross Paterson hundled with other representatives during this morning's sod turning. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

The $7.7 million, 19km cycleway - which includes a bridge over the Wairoa River - will link Omokoroa with Tauranga's existing urban cycleway network.

'This new cycleway will play a vital part in a planned cycle network that will offer more cycling and walking connections between Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, providing people with a range of transport options,” says Simon.

'Over the next three years, about $15 million will be invested into cycling projects in the Western Bay through our Urban Cycleways Programme to help establish cycling as an integral part of the area's transport network.”

The project will provide an alternative access to urban communities in the area, schools, parks and reserves and Tauranga Harbour. It will also provide an alternative route to the State Highway 2 corridor that connects the area to Tauranga City.

It is expected to be completed by June 2018.

Making urban cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice is a priority, says Simon.

'Cycling is an important part of an effective integrated transport network, it creates more vibrant and connected communities, it's good for tourism and it's a fun, healthy way to get around.

'Through the Urban Cycleways Programme, central and local government are working together to deliver $333 million of new cycleway projects throughout the country over the next three years - the single biggest investment in cycling in New Zealand's history.”

In total 54 projects are being funded under the programme nationwide.

Western By of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson says the cycleway is one of the key sub-regional links which form the Western Bay and Tauranga City Cycleways Programme.

The cycleway programme has been adopted by both councils and is actively supported by the NZ Transport Agency. The Omokoroa to Tauranga link was approved under the urban cycleway programme with a contribution of $1.5m.

"We are pleased today that the Minister has announced that the balance of the NZTA funding towards the project has been approved. The additional $3.8-$4.4m committed from NZTA was critical to ensuring the project could proceed over the next two years," says Ross.

This is the second trail the district council has started this year. The first being the 10-kilometre Papamoa to Paengaroa Trail from the Kaituna Bridge to the Tauranga Eastern Link cycleway to Te Tumu Road, Maketu Rd and follows the Te Puke Highway and SH33 into Paengaroa.

Other routes planned are Waihi to Waihi Beach, the Katikati urban trails, Kaituna Road to Maketu Road and we are working with Tauranga City to link Papamoa to the Paengaroa cycle trail.

Ross says the Omokoroa trail will cost about $8.7 million, is 19km long and includes boardwalks, gravel and concrete trails, existing footpaths and low volume roads.

"It will be a multi use trail designed for pedestrians, runners, cyclists and on some sections mobility scooters," says Ross.

The next section of the trail begins contruction next month and is expected to be finished by christmas.