Work on upgrade of James Line still stalled

The long-awaited upgrade of a busy Palmerston North road may not happen until next summer.

Work on the lower stretch of James Line was expected to start in November, but is yet to get underway.

The $2.9 million project to bring the former country lane up to full urban roading standards has been on the Palmerston North City Council’s to-do list for more than three years.

A tender was let last year, but in light of delays that could affect the availability of contractors, and likely changes to the scope and cost of the work, the council decided it would be wise to readvertise.

Road planning team leader David Lane had hoped a fresh contract would have been signed and work might have been able to get underway in November.

But by February, the council was still waiting for resource consents from Horizons Regional Council.

Any conditions imposed might affect the design of the project, and only after that was settled would the council be in a position to readvertise tenders.

At issue was the management of stormwater, erosion and sediment control, where the road dipped towards the intersection with State Highway 3.

Lane said he believed some consent conditions had been drafted, but until the council saw those and assessed what would need to be done to ensure compliance, the project remained on hold.

He said the council received enough inquiries about the project to know people were keen to see work underway, ‘‘but people in the community generally understand that consent processes take time’’.

Lane said he remained optimistic that at least a contractor would be appointed this financial year, but the bulk of the budget for the work would have to be carried forward.