Work continues on Maungatapu underpass project following asbestos removal

Approximately 3000 cubic metres of asbestos contaminated material, more than enough to fill an Olympic size swimming pool, has been trucked off the site of the Maungatapu underpass project.

The contaminated area was uncovered while earthworks were being carried out in late-2015, with work to remove it starting in February.

The NZ Transport Agency’s senior project manager John McCarthy says testing has confirmed that all known asbestos at the work site has now been cleared.

“During the removal we took every precaution necessary to ensure the work site was in line with all health and safety, environmental, legal and regulatory guidelines and there was no risk to the public.

“During the clean-up no dust or asbestos fibres were found in the air monitoring and now testing of the site has shown that all known asbestos has been cleared.

“This means the fences around the old Baden Powell Hall will come down and the area will look like a normal work site again.”

Mr McCarthy says the project team are making good progress on the Maungatapu underpass despite the asbestos find.

“The western bridge is almost complete, with the bridge beams going in sometime over the next week, and a new temporary walkway that links Hammond Street with Welcome Bay Road will open this week”.

The project is on track to open in early 2018.

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