It's a day of formal ceremonies for prime minister John Key, transport minister Simon Bridges and Auckland mayor Len Brown.

They're cutting the ribbon on a new central city waterfront cycleway this morning and turning the first sod on a Northwestern Motorway Upgrade this afternoon.

Who wore it better in the @TransportBlog photos of the @AklTransport Quay Street Cycleway opening this morning? pic.twitter.com/ipv5sA1dPq

— Michael Sergel (@michaelsergel) July 7, 2016

Both projects provide missing puzzle pieces for the city's transport network.

Quay Street Cycleway will almost complete the cycle loop around the CBD and will eventually be linked up to a connected network of cycleways across the city.

The opening of the cycleway is the first step towards converting Quay Street into a coastal boulevard over the next ten years.

Transport minister Simon Bridges says the $2.18 million cycleway completes another part of the Government's Urban Cycleways Programme, which the Government is spending $76 million on over the next three years.

“Quay Street is a central part of Auckland’s growing cycle network. It’s been designed to link in to other cycleways across the city and provides Aucklanders with a safer, more reliable walking and cycling route.

"We’re building cycleways to a standard that delivers real incentives for commuters to make a change and choose cycling as their mode of transport."

Auckland Transport cycling and walking manager Kathryn King says the cycleway will get more people to cycle into the central city.

“Having a dedicated cycleway like this means there is more space on the promenade for people to walk and enjoy the harbour views. The planter boxes, which provide protection from traffic, improve this wonderful space by adding some greenery.

“The cycle route into the city centre along Tamaki Dr is the busiest route in Auckland, and this will make cycling from the east even more attractive. Providing a protected cycleway on Quay St gives people working in the downtown area greater travel choice and an excellent cross-town route that avoids a lot of city traffic.”

Meanwhile, the upgrade of State Highway 16 between Lincoln and Westgate is the last step towards widening the Northwestern Motorway.

Key cycling statistics

• 750 cycle trips per day on pink Lightpath since it opened December
• A doubling of the number of people cycling into the city over three years.
• 50% increase in people cycling in Symonds St/Grafton Gully corridor following opening of Grafton Gully Cycleway in 2014
• 20% increase in people cycling on Northwestern Cycleway in May 2016 compared with May 2015.

Upcoming cycling projects

• July - Ian McKinnon Dr Cycleway public consultation
• August - Karangahape Rd Streetscape Enhancement and Cycleway public consultation
• September - Mangere Future Streets
• October - Mt Roskill Safe Routes
• End of the year - Great North Rd Cycleway public consultation