Road ‘struggle’ nearly over

A long-running project to upgrade Bateup Rd in Richmond is tipped to be over at the end of April when the second seal is laid.

Tasman District Council programme delivery manager Russell McGuigan last week told councillors the project had been a ‘‘disappointing struggle’’.

The council took over the road and footpath for public use on September 25, which was behind schedule. There was a list of defects to be fixed including the road surface.

‘‘Despite these challenges, we are working with the contractor to deliver a new road and the underlying surfaces, which meet all our engineering standards,’’ McGuigan said.

That contractor – Higgins – had been fixing the defects ‘‘willingly and at a large cost to themselves’’.

‘‘The council’s not paying any extra to fix those defects,’’ McGuigan said.

Levelling had been done on the road surface to fill in low spots, creating smooth black patches on the road.

Council engineering services manager Richard Kirby earlier told councillors that patching would be left to weather for about two months.

‘‘The traffic over it is going to compact it and mature it sufficiently so that we can actually seal it,’’ Kirby said.

That final chipseal coat was due to be laid by the end of April.

McGuigan said the ‘‘full life’’ budget for the project over threeand-a-half years since the investigation stage was $4.8 million, including a contribution from a developer for extra work alongside the Paton Rise subdivision.

The full life ‘‘to-date expected final cost’’ including outstanding claims was $5.1m. That was about 6 per cent, or just over $300,000 above the recommended budget.