Hauraki District Council's works team is starting construction on the Hauraki Rail Trail (HRT) extension in Waihi on Monday.

The scenic extension of the trail will continue from the current end of the trail at Goldfields Railway, to the central business area of Waihi.

The project was highlighted in the Long Term Plan and is largely supported by the Waihi community.

'Extending the route from Goldfields Railway into Waihi town via the beautiful Ohinemuri River will make the route clear and safer for cyclists to find their way to the boutique shopping, cafes and bakeries on offer in the CBD,” says Anne Marie Spicer, Councillor Waihi Ward.

Extension works should have little to no impact on traffic, with most of the traffic management being a closed shoulder.