The Dunedin City Council is working to save remaining sections of a coastal road in Waikouaiti that is crumbling into the sea.
Council staff and contractors were working to shore up Matanaka Dr, in Waikouaiti, yesterday, as powerful seas continued to batter the coastline.
The road had been closed north of the Waikouaiti sports fields, while work continued to maintain vehicle access to two homes in the area, council staff said yesterday.
Council roading maintenance engineer Peter Standring told the Otago Daily Times the waves had taken a ''bite'' out of the road in recent days.
That had resulted in the loss of a 10m to 15m long, 1m-deep section of road towards the northern end, while road reserve next to the carriageway had been lost at the southern end, he said.
The council was concerned that more damage to the road could follow further wild winter weather, transportation group manager Gene Ollerenshaw said.
''If bad weather continues, there is potential for more damage, but we will do what we can to maintain it until other options are considered for a long-term solution,'' he said.
The council planned to consult the community as it considered options for the road's future, but the ''key concern'' was maintaining access for park users in the short and long-term, council parks, recreation and aquatics group manager Richard Saunders said.
