Stabilisation work under way to protect against erosion

Work is under way to stabilise the site of slip above a busy Dunedin road.

Contractors from Dunedin-based company Pro Civil Construction Limited were hard at work in Pitt St on Thursday.

The road was blocked off while the work site was in place, including a small digger and crane, which suspended a worker above the slope.

Dunedin City Council capital team leader Kieran Trainor said the work was to stabilise a slope where a slip occurred during a heavy weather event in July last year.

After the slip, contractors removed additional overhanging material in September.

Now, contractors were drilling into the slope to install steel rods and a mesh facing, which would then be covered with vegetation, he said.

"We took immediate action following the slip in July 2022 to clear the debris and assess the safety of the road and houses above.

"Once this work was completed and the area assessed as safe, we had more time to carefully plan, design and select contractors for further stabilising works to protect against future erosion of the slope."

Pitt St was expected to reopen on December 23, but depending on ground conditions may need to be completed in the new year, which might involve a short road closure, Mr Trainor said.

tim.scott@odt.co.nz