Boardwalk 122 steps closer to opening

Those travelling by a brilliant blue and wooden boardwalk between Dunedin and Port Chalmers will notice the section looks almost complete.

The final prefabricated section of boardwalk across Blanket Bay was laid yesterday — the 122nd unit to be placed on the 610m stretch.

The last section of a 610m boardwalk at Blanket Bay in Otago Harbour is lifted into place yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN

The project is part of the harbour cycleway and walkway project linking Dunedin and Port Chalmers for pedestrians and cyclists.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency senior project manager Jason Forbes said it was a huge project milestone they had hit.

"Its a great milestone for the team, and a very visual thing so the public can see we’re making real progress," Mr Forbes said

There would be a viewing point along the boardwalk for outdoor adventurers needing a seat where an information panel would allow those interested to learn about the historic seawall, and the significance of the area to local iwi, he said.

The brilliant blue colour of the boardwalk was chosen after Waka Kotahi undertook a visual impact strategy where it decided the stand out area of the path needed to reflect the colours of the water and the sky, Mr Forbes said.

The path would also be more comfortable for cyclists than a traditional boardwalk as it was a flat surface, meaning there should be a more comfortable transition from asphalt.

Mr Forbes said despite the milestone, eager cyclists and pedestrians would have to hit their brakes until at least April 2023.

Sections of the boardwalk still needed to be attached to each other, piles installed and the area leading up to the boardwalk asphalted.