Bollards on John Wilson Ocean Drive.
John Wilson Ocean Dr should be reopened to vehicles
within the next month.
The long-running seesawing saga of whether to reopen the road
to vehicles will finally reach some resolution as Dunedin
City Council contractors prepare to lay a chip seal on the
closed stretch of road, then paint on the road markings.
City councillors decided at their final council meeting last
year to spend $80,000 to reseal the road so it can be
reopened to vehicles between 11am and 3pm on weekdays.
A seaward-side section of the road will be reserved for
cyclists and pedestrians.
The speed limit will be 50kmh in the interim, with a review a
few months after opening.
The road was closed temporarily six years ago for the period
of construction for an extended sewage outfall pipe.
Public debate and councillor indecision about reopening it to
vehicles raged after deaths in the area were noticeably
reduced while it was closed. The road became popular for
walking, cycling and exercising dogs.
Those keen to drive on the road said exclusive non-vehicle
access was unfair to the elderly or disabled.
Council roading project engineer Evan Matheson said the road
would be sealed and marked before the end of January.
Parks manager Lisa Wheeler said it would then a matter of
deciding when the council's security company would start
daily moving and replacing bollards, to control vehicle
access.
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