Portobello Rd work starts in earnest

Repairing slip near Broad Bay that has inconvenienced motorists since 2013 is about to start, and work on widening Portobello Rd and renewing the sea wall close to Otakou is under way.

The $1.51 million project to build a retaining wall at Turnbulls Bay, by Broad Bay, would begin ''almost immediately'', Dunedin City Council roading projects engineer Michael Harrison said.

The wall was required after the road was undermined during a storm in mid-2013 and the damage has caused traffic delays ever since.

Mr Harrison said yesterday set-up work had been done, plans were in place, and materials ordered so the contractor could begin work.

The first job was to relocate a telecommunication cable. After that, the project would involve building a reinforced earth retaining structure, with concrete blocks on its face.

It would be built to allow for future road-widening and cycleway work.

The project, depending on weather, was expected to be completed by May.

At Otakou, another stage of the Portobello Rd-Harington Point Rd safety improvements began last month.

That work would involve renewing the sea wall, widening the road and building a walking and cycle lane.

The work near the settlement was expected to finish in April.

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Portobello Rd work starts in earnest