Asbestos discovery won't stop underpass progress

The Welcome Bay site of the Maungatapu underpass construction and the site where asbestos was found in a mysterious old building. Photo / Supplied

Asbestos has been found by contractors working on the new Maungatapu underpass.

The NZ Transport Agency yesterday confirmed the discovery of asbestos late last month at the site of an old, demolished building on Welcome Bay Rd near the Baden Powell Centre.

Contractors found the asbestos when they uncovered the remains of an old demolished building.

The asbestos was covered up and the area fenced off.

The Transport Agency's acting Bay of Plenty highway manager Adam Francis said until further investigations were done, they would not know exactly what or how much of the building had been covered over.

"Our priority is addressing the affected area rather than establishing the history of the building," Mr Francis told the Bay of Plenty Times.

"We have employed specialists to come in and examine the site.

"It is still early stages of the investigation and as we know more we will advise the public."

Mr Francis said Worksafe NZ, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council were informed and there was no immediate health risk to staff or the community.

Specialist contractors were expected at the site this morning to remove the asbestos safely.

"The site has been secured in line with regulations and we are currently working ... to determine the best disposal measures going ahead," Mr Francis said.

"We hope to have a disposal method confirmed later this month."

Mr Francis said the discovery and removal had not held up progress on the Maungatapu underpass.

The underpass is being built on State Highway 29A underneath the Maungatapu roundabout and will connect to Welcome Bay Rd.

Along with the underpass, the project includes new cycle links and a cycle and pedestrian bridge above SH29A.

The underpass is expected to separate state highway and local traffic, reducing congestion at peak times and making travel safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

The area where the asbestos site was found lies near Hammond St, which has been closed to traffic while construction of the underpass continues.

Residential traffic is using a new access way on SH29A until the Hammond St access onto Welcome Bay Rd returns when the project is complete.