KEY POINTS:
The biggest public project in Far North history, Kerikeri's $17 million Heritage Bypass, is still due to open in mid-2008 despite last month's deluge and trouble with a temporary bridge.
The bypass will divert 7500 cars a day away from the country's oldest surviving buildings and allow the demolition of the Stone Store Bridge, which is blamed for recurring flooding.
The 1.6km, two-lane link will have space for cyclists and pedestrians.
Far North District Council project manager Alan Shadbolt said work on the bypass was about three weeks behind but was still expected to finish on time in June 2008.
The delays had been caused by "a couple of weather events" and problems with the temporary span across the Kerikeri River.
The earthworks were expected to be completed this month when work on surfacing and the bridge could begin.
The extreme rainfall last month had stripped off some topsoil but left no significant damage. The contractor, Drury-based HEB Smithbridge, was putting in a claim for damage done during the storm, Mr Shadbolt said.
Drainage and roading adviser Fiona Vessey said many archaeological artefacts had been uncovered but, as an archaeologist was on site during clearing and excavation, that had not caused any delays.
So far a midden and several hangi pits had been found, and a swamp beside the river had yielded 26 pre- European agricultural tools dating to around 1700.
The winning tender for the project, which includes demolishing the Stone Store Bridge and building a replacement further upstream, was just under $14 million.
Three-quarters of the cost is being met by Land Transport NZ and the Prime Minister's Cultural and Heritage Committee is picking up the rest of the tab.
- NZPA
