Yesterday, the Dunedin City Council began installing new lockable bollards on the drive to replace what it called the "untidy and frequently vandalised" gates, which were built to close the road to vehicles.
Interest in the future of the drive is evidently strong, with the council receiving 89 submissions on the issue by yesterday morning, and expecting more before the submission period closes at 5pm today.
The council is undertaking a consultation process to decide what should happen to the road, which was originally closed to traffic while construction of the Tahuna outfall project was under way.
It was reopened in October last year, but was closed to traffic two weeks later, following a death at Lawyers Head.
The council voted last year for its preferred option, the road's permanent closure to vehicles, to address the problem of public safety at Lawyers Head.
The installation of the bollards was signalled at a community development committee meeting in June, when the committee was told the $2800 cost would be funded from existing budgets.
The initiative would not affect the consultation process, and the bollards could be replaced if necessary.
Contractors at the site this week said the vandalism had been ongoing, and when a metal box had been attached to the gate to protect a padlock, that had been attacked, and the gate had to be rewelded.
Cr Paul Hudson said the installation of the bollards was not related to the consultation process, or whether the drive would become open to vehicle access, or remain closed.
The work was expected to be completed next week.
