There is further doubt that opening the already delayed Transmission Gully motorway north of Wellington will happen in late September as planned.
Work underway on a section of the Transmission Gully motorway in November 2020. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Waka Kotahi has granted essential status to workers at Transmission Gully to keep the site secure during lockdown.
However, resource consent work by Greater Wellington Regional Council cannot now be completed due to lockdown restrictions.
That may affect the opening date of 27 September.
The project is already behind, meaning the building company will lose a $7.5 million bonus as well as being fined $250,000 for each day work extends past the due date.
Council chairperson Daran Ponter said they were in frequent discussions with the road builder and Waka Kotahi.
"The regional council has to be able to get its staff onto the road corridor to actually monitor whether the resource consent conditions are or have been met and under level 4 that could prove somewhat problematic," Ponter said.
Earlier in August, a report revealed a long list of jobs that needed finishing before Transmission Gully could be opened, which likely would not be done by the already extended completion date.