url encode

I've a controller below. When I redirect the parameter is getting decoded and CodeIgniter can't match the URL and I get a 404. What's going on here?
My route is:

PHP Code:

$routes->get('/operations/path-item/(:segment)', 'Operations::path_item/$1'); 


PHP Code:

public function data()
  {
    $path = $this->request->getGet('path');
    if ($path)
      return redirect()->to(base_url("/operations/path-item/' . urlencode($path")));

    $download = $this->request->getGet('download');
    if ($download)
      return redirect()->to(base_url('/operations/download-item/' . urlencode($download)));

    print view('header', [
      'title' => 'Data Directory',
      'meta_desc' => self::META_DESC,
    ]);

    print view('Operations/data', [
      'env' => getenv('BNCENV'),
      'today' => date('md'),
    ]);

    print view('footer');
  } 


Simpler is always better