Pink cycleway opened this morning

Auckland's bright pink cycleway opened this morning. Photo / Supplied

Auckland's $18 million bright pink cycleway opened this morning.

The cycleway, which also caters for walkers, is being funded by the Government's Urban Cycleways Programme and built in two phases.

The Nelson St cycleway over Auckland's central motorway junction has been painted bright pink and is fitted with flashing LED lights.

Phase one stretches from Upper Queen St to Victoria St and connects with the existing Northwestern Cycleway and Grafton Gully. Phase two will extend to Quay St and be open by the middle of 2016.

"This is a great day for Auckland's inner city cycling network," Transport Minister Simon Bridges said.

"The cycleway is a new and exciting urban space, creating a city centre where people feel more safe and confident to ride a bike.

"The cycleway, which has been built in the midst of Auckland's central motorway junction, is New Zealand's most ambitious piece of urban cycling infrastructure ever built.

"The cycleway will transform Auckland's inner city cycling network.

"I'm pleased that we have been able to deliver a world-class cycleway that will shape the way Aucklanders and visitors move around the city.

The project is included in the Government's $333 million Urban Cycleways Programme -- the biggest investment in cycling in New Zealand's history.

For more information on the Nelson Street Cycleway:

-NZH