Removal works started in February, with approximately 3000 cubic metres of asbestos contaminated material safely discarded, more than enough to fill an Olympic size swimming pool.
The 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.
“No dust or asbestos fibres were found in the air monitoring during the clean-up and now testing of the site has shown that all known asbestos has been cleared.”
The underpass will be built underneath the Maungatapu roundabout in Tauranga and will connect to Welcome Bay Road. It will separate state highway and local traffic, reduce congestion at peak times and make travel safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The project includes new cycle links and a cycle and pedestrian bridge above SH29A.
Mr McCarthy says the project team are making good progress on the Maungatapu underpass despite the asbestos find.
“It is a complex project on a busy road but the team are working to ensure that they remain on track”.
The project is on track to open in early 2018.