The first sod was turned on the $25 million Eastern Access Rd project on November 3.
Queenstown Lakes District Council programme director Gareth Noble said there remained just 0.5km of the road, known as Hawthorne Dr, to be constructed as part of stage two. That section will extend the road past Glenda Dr to an internal roundabout by Pak'n Save on the Frankton flats and would be finished by December.
Mr Noble said the project was ``on budget''.
``We're doing a review of what our expenditure is as we speak to provide an updated forecast. But certainly we're on budget. We're tracking really well from a project perspective.''
Project manager Simon Brackstone said up to 60 Fulton Hogan staff had logged 48,000 man hours working six days a week on the first 2km section.
It had been a ``significant'' infrastructure project, particularly in relation to massive 1.8m-tall stormwater pipes, placed upwards of 7m deep in the ground, and the sewerage required.
The cement for the road had been mixed with gravels, meaning it was ``fully stabilised''.
Landscaping and street lighting had also been installed, as had entrances to future internal roads for Remarkables Park.
Mr Brackstone said the road would be governed by a 50kmh speed limit, with the exception of one 250m section at the Glenda Dr end which could not be sealed until spring. Until that time, it would be governed by a 30kmh speed limit.
The road would need to be closed for about five days in October for the final section to be sealed, he said.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult will open it on Thursday morning.
