A GIANT crane brought lengthy traffic tailbacks yesterday when it arrived to lift large sections of Torquay's Rock Walk pathway into place.

The huge lifting equipment — as big as the crane which was used to fell the trees on the overgrown cliff face when the project started three years ago — arrived at about noon.

Traffic quickly built up as it was manoeuvred into place.

Workers will also be clearing some of the greenery and removing any loose small stones which have fallen on to the supportive netting.

Meanwhile it has been confirmed only a small section of the lower Rock Walk pathway will be open to the public this weekend.

It could be two to three weeks more before the whole project is opened to visitors, though work will continue on the finishing touches before the £3million project is opened in October.

Contractors are still hard at work finishing off Torquay's own 'stairway to heaven' with several purpose-built concrete sections to be put into place and finished off.

Health and safety restrictions mean the only parts of the lower path that can be opened are where no-one is working on the cliff face above.

The carriageway under the cliff face is to be cleaned off and work has started on installing new road signs and parking meters. The carriageway can also only fully open with health and safety approval.

Co-ordinating the different sections of work, together with problems caused by weather and health and safety restrictions are behind the delays, said Ian Williams, facilities and operations manager for parks.

"We cannot allow people to walk or drive below work which is going on on the cliff face," he said. He said electricians putting decorative lights into the risers on the steps had been delayed because of wet weather last week.

Deputy Mayor Chris Lewis said: "Obviously it's disappointing but we had a bad spell of weather. Health and safety is a priority. We have waited three years since the gardens had to be closed because of their derelict condition in 2007, and we are a few weeks adrift. I am sure it will be worth it, we are creating something that will be here for 100 years."

Gardeners are busy putting in Mediterranean-style plants, and the pavement at the Torbay Hotel end has been relaid. A large photographic panel of Torbay has been installed in the restored former shelter, and the beds in front replanted.

Members of the public will initially be allowed in to the site from that end, but only during the day.

A council spokesman apologised for any delays and said the contractors worked through the night last night with the crane due to have left by this morning to minimise disruption.