Footpath work a step in the right direction

Pedestrians in Rāwene are a step closer to safer walkways thanks to a footpath project that got underway last week.

The work involves adding two sections of footpath to fill in gaps in an existing path along Parnell Street. The first section is at the intersection of Nimmo East Street and Parnell Street and the second section runs from Rāwene Primary School to Honey Street.

The project, costing around $800,000, began with the Nimmo Street section which should take about two weeks to finish, depending on weather conditions. Once complete, work will begin on the primary school to Honey Street section. The project is expected to be finished by July.

The Nimmo East Street section is 47m long and the work includes planter boxes, shrubs and bollards. The second section to Honey Street is 326m long and includes new timber retaining walls, a new kerb and channel, underground drainage and a new 147m handrail and fencing along the edge of the retaining walls.

Traffic management will be in place during the work, and both motorists and pedestrians are asked to take extra care around the work site.

The work is being carried out by Far North District Council’s contractor Ventia and is part of a number of footpath projects across the district due to get underway in the next few months.