The second stage of upgrading Main Street includes two parts and is expected to take until mid-May, with the condition of underground pipes and manholes requiring more extensive work.
The project includes:
- Wastewater upgrade beneath the Main St/Square roundabout
An ageing wastewater pipe beneath the roundabout is being replaced. The existing pipe is more than 100 years old and made of glazed earthenware. It’s unlikely to withstand upcoming construction activity and isn't big enough to cope with the increasing flows expected soon. Replacing the pipe now reduces the risk of failure.
- Road surface rehabilitation on the northern side of Main Street
Road pavement rehabilitation is on the northern side of Main Street only – from the Main Street/The Square roundabout through to the bus terminal, along the front of the new Safari Group building.
This stage of work will require us to close the northbound lane on Main Street outside the Safari Group building from the roundabout to the end of the bus terminal. The traffic lane on the Courthouse side will remain unaffected, which means bus platforms 1 and 3 can remain in their existing locations.
Platform two is temporarily relocated 50 metres down to the road to outside Jacobs Florentine due to the partial closure of Main Street, which affects how buses can enter and exit the area.
Despite work taking place on the Main Street/The Square roundabout, traffic will remain open to two lanes on The Square and through the roundabout. To achieve this, Fulton Hogan will temporarily asphalt over the grassed centre section of the roundabout and use this space as a vehicle lane. This allows us to maintain traffic while construction is underway.
Stage 3 will take place later in the year and includes upgrades to the footpath and kerb (roadside drain) on the northern corner of Main Street and The Square. There’s likely to be other minor wrap up work once construction of the Safari Group hotel is complete.
Read more about Stage 2 of the Main Street upgrade