The cost of developing Dunedin's scenic John Wilson Ocean Dr into a shared space for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists is about to become clearer.
A development plan detailing the features of the redeveloped road was due to be completed on November 31 and would contain estimates of the expected cost, council community and recreation policy team leader Lisa Wheeler confirmed yesterday.
However, it was not yet clear when the likely costs would be made public. The council's community development committee would not consider the details until its first meeting of 2011 on February 9.
A report to be considered at next week's community development committee would update councillors on the timeline, but provide few other new details.
It follows the council's decision last month to reinstate limited vehicle access on the popular coastal road, but only after a shared walking/cycling lane and other improvements were added.
The road would remain closed to vehicles until the work was undertaken sometime in the 2011-12 financial year.
In the meantime, the council planned initial minor improvements to parking and turning in the area, as well as new prickly plantings to act as a safety barrier at the Lawyers Head lookout, deterring the public from accidentally venturing too close to the edge.
Council community and recreation services manager Mick Reece said discussions were under way to decide which plants would be most appropriate, but none had yet been added.
Council senior transportation planner Bruce Conaghan said new angle parking and a safe turning area would be added by Christmas, but other changes would have to wait until the development plan was complete.
