Bridge opening delayed 3 months

Construction work at the Dundas St Bridge. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

A construction site has completely blocked Dundas St at the intersection with Leith St in North Dunedin since late February.

It is part of the Otago Regional Council's decade-long flood protection project on Water of Leith.

The bridge was meant to fully reopen next month, but this has been delayed until October.

Council operations general manager Gavin Palmer said the council would assess whether the bridge could be opened to pedestrians earlier than that.

"We will keep residents and other key stakeholders informed when we know more."

It was "difficult to know exactly what lies underneath the ground and where", he said.

"As the Leith flood protection scheme at Dundas St has progressed to increase the flood capacity, we've found that to complete it safely and properly we've had to carry out additional works that were not part of the original programme."

University of Otago student Nuradhi Jayasiri, who lives next to the works in Leith St, said the construction was inconvenient "but needed to be done".

Pedestrians and drivers would need to take major detours to reach their destinations, she said.

The extra works include installing a retaining wall next to the properties closest to the river to ensure they are not damaged while the project is carried out and moving and replacing water mains.

Other works downstream from the bridge will continue after the bridge reopens.

The project has involved a series of engineering modifications along the stream to reduce the likelihood of floodwaters overflowing and flooding the city.

In its long-term plan last year the council budgeted $4.5million for the work over three years.