The Maungatapu underpass project has tested asbestos free after about 3000 tonnes of asbestos contaminated soil was removed from outside the former Welcome Bay scout hall over recent weeks.

All known asbestos at the work site has now been cleared, says NZ Transport Agency senior project manager John McCarthy.

The hall site is now cleared. Photos supplied.

'During the removal we took every precaution necessary to ensure the work site was in line with all health and safety, environmental, legal and regulatory guidelines and there was no risk to the public,” says John.

'During the clean-up no dust or asbestos fibres were found in the air monitoring, and now testing of the site has shown that all known asbestos has been cleared.

'This means the fences around the old Baden Powell Hall will come down and the area will look like a normal work site again.”

The contamination was uncovered while earthworks were being carried out in late-2015, with work to remove it starting in February.

Meanwhile the project team is making good progress on the Maungatapu underpass despite the asbestos find.

'The western bridge is almost complete, with the bridge beams going in sometime over the next week, and a new temporary walkway that links Hammond Street with Welcome Bay Road will open this week,” says John.

The project is on track to open in early 2018