The replacement of the Millers Stream culvert under Pohutukawa Avenue, Ohope, has recommenced, following a break over the Easter period.

This will result in periodic traffic flow delays in Ohope through until late-May.

Traffic management systems will be in place and motorists are asked to exercise caution and patience while travelling through the work zone.

'From now until the completion of the project, we can expect traffic delays through until the project is completed and people should adjust their travel time expectations accordingly,” says Whakatane District Council infrastructure general manager Tomasz Krawczyk.

The works undertaken during March involved preparatory works which needed to be completed before the old culvert is removed. This work involved installing a new stormwater culvert to divert run-off from the road to the beach end of the new culvert. This will alleviate the impact that stormwater run-off was having on surface flooding in this area.

The new culvert will also be utilised to provide a temporary bypass for the stream during the construction of the new culvert.

The water main that passed over the culvert was also relocated and upgraded to meet future demand requirements for the Ohope community.