Road detour ends
A major road detour has been removed on Cambridge Road following a successful pressure test of a new pipeline that will supply water to Waipa residents.
The pipeline will bring water from the Waikato River to the Parallel Road Water Treatment Plant, which is part of a programme of works to bring treated water to Te Awamutu in the future.
The detour, put in place in October 2019, was to allow traffic to flow while work was being carried out on the major infrastructure project which has a lifespan of 100 years.
Waipā District Council service delivery group manager, Dawn Inglis, said the detour being lifted brought welcome relief to residents along the section of road and beyond.
“This section of pipeline has had a number of delays and our residents have been unbelievably resilient and patient facing this major disruption to their daily lives,” said Inglis.
“They understand just how vital this infrastructure is to Te Awamutu and our surrounding towns, as well as to our wider water network, which our community will be able to relish for many generations to come..”
The Te Awamutu water supply pipeline work was interrupted by the Covid-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown, which required a total shut down of all work sites for the Council.
The project was reaching a pivotal pressure test when the site was closed down and a temporary seal applied for allow for safe traffic flow throughout the lockdown.
“Seeing the detour lifted temporarily was confusing for many of our commuters, particularly when it was reinstated. Unfortunately it was necessary to reinstate it for this final pressure testing, which took place over the last few weeks,” Inglis added.
“The pressure test is an essential measure to locate any leaks prior to reinstating the road with a permanent seal.”
During the pressure test along Cambridge road a small number of leaks in the new pipe were located and repaired.
But the road detour won’t be the end of the Te Awamutu Water Supply project, with stage two taking place between Parallel Road and Taylors Hill where a treated water pipeline will be laid between the Treatment Plant and the Reservoir.
Work on the pipeline connection at Kaipaki Road, Lamb Street and Silverwood Lane intersection will take place mainly off the road, and the final connection between Pukerimu Pump Station and Parallel Road Water Treatment Plant will also take place in coming weeks. No further traffic detours are anticipated.
The Parallel Road Water Treatment Plant upgrade will start in June and is expected to be completed at the end of 2021.
The critical nature of the town water supply upgrade was highlighted this summer with Te Awamutu, Pirongia and Ohaupo reaching Water Alert Level 4, the highest water alert level in the Waipā district. Level 4 meant a complete outdoor water ban for the three communities.
To learn more about the water supply project, visit waipadc.govt.nz/teawamutuwatersupply.