SH88 rail and path work ‘progressing well’

Contractors continue to work on the State Highway 88 shared path and rail alignment between Port Chalmers and Sawyers Bay.

NZ Transport Agency senior project manager Jason Forbes said the reclamation work was ‘‘progressing well’’.

‘‘In this location, the plan is to install new sleepers and tracks, not to shift the existing tracks. The tracks will be removed.

‘‘The switch over to the new track is planned from July 2021.’’

He said a lot of ‘‘subgrade preparation works’’ were required at St Leonards before the track could be shifted.

‘‘These preparatory works will take until about September 2021, at which time the existing track will be moved on to its new alignment.’’

Other works under way included reclamation fill and rock armour placement in the Burkes Lagoon; installation of various drainage elements; reclamation rock armouring of Sawyers/ Mussel Bays; installation of piles through the Roseneath cutting; and prefabrication of the boardwalk unit.

The piles and boardwalk unit will eventually provide a structure for walkers and cyclists to go through the cutting at Roseneath.

Road users heading to and from Port Chalmers may have short delays while construction of the boardwalk takes place.