A geotechnical assessment of the rock-face on the southern side of the Canning Place/Commerce Street intersection has now been undertaken, following a recent rock-fall in the area.
A report on the stability of the face is expected to be available later this month and will provide advice on the likelihood of further falls, and any work that might be required to stabilise the slope.
Whakatāne District Council Transportation Manager Martin Taylor says the material that came down before Christmas will be left in place, to provide a containment barrier for any further falls.
“In the meantime, the footpath at the base of the rock-face and part of the adjacent traffic lane will be closed to pedestrians and vehicle traffic, as a precautionary measure, and a short one-way system will be in place to bypass the affected area,” he says.
The access restrictions are likely to remain in place for at least two weeks.
Mr Taylor says the Council has been liaising with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, due to the proximity of culturally significant sites to the rock-fall area. It is not expected that any stabilisation works required will impact on those sites.