Stuff Digital Edition

Busy city block out of action

Janine Rankin

Roadworks on the intersection of Church and Princess streets are here to stay for at least two months.

Traffic is flowing again on Princess St, but from there to Victoria Ave, Church St remains a largely no-go area for some time, as sewer pipes are replaced.

The project started a week ago to replace ageing wastewater mains and connections to properties along the block, requiring the closure of the street to through traffic.

The work started at the Princess St end, closing not only the intersection, but eastbound lanes on Princess St for a few days.

The cost of the work is about $540,000, which was factored into the city council’s work schedule and budgets for the year.

It was happening at the same time as major water pipe replacements and roadworks at the Cloverlea roundabout.

That project is costing about $900,000, including $200,000 for the pipes, and $700,000 for the roading.

Council acting transport and infrastructure manager, Sandra King, said both projects had been planned before the Government announced a $9.3 million boost for the council for participating in its Three Waters reforms so far.

A condition of using that fund was that it had to be spent on additional work not already scheduled.

King said the final cost of both projects could be subject to small changes depending on traffic management requirements, scope, delays due to weather, and if crews encountered anything underground that was not expected.

‘‘We are confident these projects costs will be met within existing budgets.’’

Church St had to be fully closed during the work because of the health and safety risks around exposed wastewater pipes.

The footpaths remained open most of the time, except when they had to be dug up while connections to properties were laid.

For residents, customers to businesses and waste and utility providers, the road would be accessible from the Victoria Ave end only.

King said the closure would cause delays and inconvenience, but was important to ensure safe wastewater services continued to be provided.

News

en-nz

2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/281582358839392

Stuff Limited