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One of Wellington’s major commuter roads will be reduced to one lane for two years while repair work is carried out at the site of a major slip.
But before work begins on the Ngaio Gorge Rd ramp, the lizards along the banks will be relocated to the other side of the road in Trelissick Park.
Councilwoman Jenny Condie, who has the council’s transportation infrastructure portfolio, said they had been waiting for the lizards to come out of hibernation.
“Now that they are awake, we can begin to get them out of harm’s way before starting this critical project.”
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The lizards would be captured individually in breathable cloth bags, he said, and the job would take three or four days.
The landslide occurred on Ngaio Gorge Rd in 2017, with lane diversions and speed restrictions in place since temporary containers and concrete walls were erected shortly thereafter.
KITCHEN / ROBERT THINGS
Traffic diversions and speed restrictions have been in place since the road reopened shortly after the landslide. (File photo)
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said in a statement Monday that work to fix the site would begin on October 12 and take up to two years.
The highway carries 10,000 vehicles a day and is an important connection between the northern suburbs and the city.
The two-lane road would revert to one lane at the slip site, which would be controlled by traffic signs.
“I know that this job, at times, will be inconvenient for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who need to travel Ngaio Gorge Rd.
KEVIN STENT / Stuff
The project is expected to cost $ 11 million. (File photo)
“But I ask people to be patient and, if possible, use Ngauranga Gorge, Onslow Rd or public transportation to help ease congestion as we provide this long-term solution to this vital artery.
The $ 11 million would be spent on removing loose material and stabilizing the site, he said.
This would include the construction of three retaining walls, expected to take a year, that would widen and realign the highway. Once this is completed, further stabilization work would be carried out to reduce the risk of falling rocks.
Construction crews would work on the landslide site between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday through October 2022.
KITCHEN / ROBERT THINGS
Wellington City Council Transportation Asset Manager Deven Singh talks about a possible solution for the Ngaio Gorge Rd landslide site in Wellington.
The road would remain in one lane even when crews were not on site, for health and safety reasons.
The container walls were installed on the upper slide shortly after the slide, while a concrete block wall was installed at the site of the lower slide.
The work was scheduled for March, but was delayed due to Covid-19.
