Pathway to become a hive of activity to remedy erosion

A stretch of Palmerston North’s Manawatu¯ Riverside shared pathway is about to become a construction zone.

Partial pathway closures and diversions will be in place from Dittmer Drive to the back of Victoria Esplanade as three major projects get under way.

The first is building a rock lining against the bank to protect a pathway at risk of being undermined by erosion.

Powerco will begin work installing an under-river cable emerging on the stopbank at Dittmer Dr, and work on the He Ara Kotahi cycle and pedestrian bridge is on track to start in February.

The trio of projects will begin on the Massey University side of the river, requiring the first stage of the Fitzherbert Bridge to Linton pathway to be closed.

Horizons Regional Council area engineer Paul Joseph said shingle would need to be moved across the river to provide a working platform for the laying of some 2000 tonnes of rock that would have to be brought in by truck.

Pathway users would be diverted through other Esplanade pathways while the $250,000 construction, being paid for by Horizons and the city council, was completed.

It is expected to take about 12 weeks.

Further downstream, Powerco would be driving a 33kv cable under the river, through the Dittmer Drive reserve and to Park Rd across council-owned land at the Lido Aquatic Centre.

Powerco general manager for service delivery and network operations Glenn Sharratt said two additional cables were also planned to be included in the bridge structure, with Powerco contributing $500,000 toward the $10.6 million cost of the bridge.

City council general manager for City Networks Ray Swadel said a start on the bridge was planned for early February.

‘‘These are all individually significant projects that will each bring long-term benefits to our city,’’ he said.

A base on Dittmer Drive Reserve near the Holiday Park would be fenced off for use by the three groups, with the pathway route diverted away from that work area on to Dittmer Drive.