The Dunedin City Council voted this week to go ahead with a $1.2million plan that will include an upgrade of what is being called Abutment Square, the area off Vogel St that used to be one end of a bridge over the railway lines.
It will also provide a shared space for pedestrians, cars and bicycles in the Bond and Water St area near the exchange, and an alleyway project off Bond St.
Council urban design team leader Crystal Filep also indicated in a report to a full meeting of the council on Tuesday a further $1.25 million would be sought in the council’s next long-term plan to enhance the project in future.
Dr Filep said the date building work would start would be negotiated through a tendering process which would begin next month, and would depend on contractor availability.
However, the work would need to be completed by the end of June next year.
The Vogel St area at Abutment Sq would be done first, then the work on Bond St.
The alleyway project was the only aspect of the work that could not be guaranteed to be complete by the end of June, although she hoped it would.
The next step for the alleyway was to negotiate a legal arrangement for public use of the space.
The land was privately owned by several stakeholders.
"We’ve already had quite promising discussions with a few of the building and business owners in the area.
"There does seem to be support and enthusiasm."
Once the legal arrangement was decided, staff would go back to the council with another report.
"Hopefully, before too long we can add that into the tender process as well."
Dr Filep said the extra funding sought for the project was for "kind of an enhancement of what we’ve already been planning".
The shared space was a trial, though "quite a permanent sort of trial".
"We’ll get the public to tell us what they think, how it’s working, and if they think aspects of the design could be improved or tweaked."
The report said the funding would be used for initiatives including pavers, improved pedestrian crossings, street furniture and an extension of the alleyway project.
"Even if we didn’t get that funding, the current design is designed to be successful and long-lasting."
