Locals and visitors will have a spectacular new viewing spot to take in Hawke Bay and the Napier seafront by the end of the year.
It will be a large, raised viewing platform which will sit on the Marine Parade water's edge, reached by a walkway across the beach from the established walk and cycleway.
It is also the wrap-up stage of the major stormwater drain installation project from Hastings and Tennyson streets two years ago.
The walkway out, and the platform, which will feature a canopy-style roof, will disguise the pipeway exit which is just along the beach from the Tom Parker Fountain.
Work began on the project late last month and is expected to be completed in December.
Concrete Structures contract manager John Pohlin said the project was effectively a giant kitset, with the large 10-12 tonne concrete slabs all pre-cast at their factory in Hastings, transported to the site, and then pieced together.
The company had brought in one of its impressive 100-tonne lift cranes to do the job, which at this stage is to act as a pile-driver to plant the huge steel piles, which will be encased by the concrete beams, up to 15m deep.
A five-tonne hammer attachment is doing the job.
Mr Pohlin said, given the sea conditions, the piles had to go deep. The sea conditions also meant there were challenges for the between four and eight crew usually on site. "On a nice day it is a very nice place to work," he said.
"But when we had the high seas last week it wasn't so flash."
The pile work was at about the halfway stage and the work of the giant crane had been drawing a few extra lunchtime spectators to the seafront. When the Napier City Council first began planning the stormwater upgrade back in 1995, it was always envisaged there would be some form of platform near the sea for people to wander and take in the view.
But as a council spokesman pointed out, it was not designed to be a pier as it would not stretch out into the sea.
Although on the days when the seas were pushed in by stormy easterlies, it would "greet" the surf below.
The budget for the platform comes out of the $2.6 million the council has budgeted for the CBD stormwater upgrade.
The main structural work is expected to be wrapped up in November and then the month-long work on the "cloud" roofing structure, handrails and glass end panel will take place.