9 February 2010
As part of the wider Heart of Te Awamutu project, Alexandra Street enhancement works will get underway on March 8.
The works, which have been awarded to contractor Fulton Hogan and are scheduled to be completed by June, will include upgrades of water, stormwater and sewer services, new street lighting and furniture and an enhancement of pedestrian areas and gardens. Existing paving and kerblines will generally remain unchanged.
Project Manager Karen Hills says the enhancement works will not only give the main street a much-needed boost, but will solve infrastructural issues, so asks for patience while the works are in progress.
“There will be significant disruption. Unfortunately when you are replacing 800 metres of water pipes and 200 metres of stormwater pipes it cant be helped. The current pipes are over 70 years old, so by replacing everything at once, the main street will be set for the next 80 years. It will be a bit painful for businesses, and we really apologise for that, but we’d like to thank those who have expressed their cooperation and support, as the long term benefits, and the vastly improved streetscape will be fantastic for the CBD.”
To ensure the different aspects of the project are completed as efficiently as possible, works will be done at night as well as during the day. Traffic diversions are currently being finalised, but Market Street, Roche Street and parts of Alexandra Street will be closed at various times during the 10 week contract period.
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