Joining another link in the Mountains to the Sea cycleway is nearer with the Whanganui District Council calling tenders for the 7km stretch from Upokongaro to Whanganui city.
The tender, which closes at the end of July, involves designing the cycleway, securing the necessary consents, negotiating with any affected landowners as well as maintaining the path for a three-year period.
The route will follow State Highway 4 from Upkongaro village to Pauls Road a distance of about 7km. For the most part the track will be on the right-hand side of the highway but near the white bridge it may cross the highway to move to left-hand side of the road.
Leighton Toy, council's deputy property manager, said the final alignment of the pathway will be subject to the contractor's detailed design and then council's final approval.
"The cycleway is proposed to follow the alignment of the road on the riverside from Upokongaro to Whites Bridge.