Despite delays caused by the serious east coast low earlier in the year, Merimbula bypass project manager, David Buckley, believes the current works will be completed by Christmas.
“I want to be on the other side of Wonga Street by the end of this month,” Mr Buckley said in reference to the work taking place close the public toilets and pumping station.
“I’ve got two crews working at the moment. It is a lot more complex in this area because we have had to do it in phases to keep access open but I hope to see people driving down the new road in December,” Mr Buckley said.
This week has seen access to the car park via Palmer Lane closed while work focuses on the area around the gym and Celebrations.
On Monday morning Telstra crews were working to move a Telstra pit while work continued around the car parking alterations for Merimbula Health and Fitness and Celebrations. There was a land swap in order to facilitate a better curve in the bypass as it headed for the intersection of Monaro Street.
Mr Buckley explained that to a certain extent works had to revolve around the existing position of the sewer pumping station next to the public toilets.
“This is a major pumping station, gravity fed from the surrounding area and then pumped to the sewage farm in Arthur Kaine Drive. There is also an electrical sub-station next to the toilets and so there was no chance of moving this infrastructure,” he explained.
Once the bypass is finished, Country Link and B Line buses are expected to use the bus bays situated close to the public toilets and a bus shelter will be built but local buses will still be able to travel along and stop in Market Street.
Intersection works at the junction of Palmer Lane, Monaro and Market Streets are not likely to start until May next year and will take about three months.
Mr Buckley said he was looking at using night crews and also whether there were any bypass routes that could be used.
