More paperwork is required before the New Zealand Transport Agency can decide whether to fund an underpass on State Highway 8 at Clyde.
An underpass has been discussed by the Central Otago District Council since 2004, when the idea was first mooted.
At a Vincent Community Board meeting in Alexandra yesterday, members were asked to support one of two options for the exact location of an underpass, so the NZTA could proceed with its initial investigation of the project.
NZTA representative Phil Dowsett told board members there was an issue with the initial location proposed, and therefore a second option could be considered.
He said the council's preferred option of locating an underpass at an existing crossing point off Albert Dr would result in construction constraints, as space was tight.
The constraints could increase costs for the project, although technically it could be achieved, he said.
A second option of locating the underpass on the northern side of Springvale Rd would require people using the Otago Central Rail Trail to cross Springvale Rd to access the underpass, although space would not be an issue.
In 2004, the then Alexandra Community Board bought property on Albert Dr and subdivided it to provide an access strip from the road to SH8 - as provision for a safe crossing.
Vincent board member Tony Lepper said the board had been "let down" during the subdivision process, as it was not told about best practice design for underpasses and therefore did not allocate enough space - which had created the current problem.
"We owned all the land we needed, and I'm pretty sure these design principles have been around a long time - so why didn't we know about this at the time?" he asked.
The board resolved not to approve either option, and to wait until the NZTA provided more detailed plans for both possibilities - including cost estimates.
Mr Dowsett said "realistically" it would be after Christmas when the NZTA could update the board, after which a preference for either option could be confirmed.
