The Dunedin City Council announced yesterday GHD New Zealand had been awarded the design contract for the project, which involves widening the road and building a cycleway and pedestrian path along Portobello and Harington Point Roads from Vauxhall to Taiaroa Head.
Council acting group manager transport Richard Saunders hailed the announcement.
''This is a key transport project for the council, which has widespread community backing, and we're pleased to be moving ahead with it.''
The project was a partnership between the council and New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), which was funding 55% of the total cost.
''We are grateful for the support of the NZTA, which has enabled the delivery of this project to be accelerated,'' Mr Saunders said.
There would be activity on the section of road over the coming months as GHD began the design process ahead of construction, which was scheduled to begin in the middle of next year.
Throughout the design and construction phase, residents and stakeholders would be given opportunities to engage in the process.
The announcement comes after GHD, which is an international professional services company, set up an office in Dunedin.
GHD consultant team leader Andrew Watt said it chose to open an office in the city in response to the major infrastructure redevelopment work going on in the region and so it could better serve its clients in the area.
