Century-old pipes to be replaced

Century-old pipes will be replaced around the Queens Gardens area over the next few months.

The stormwater and wastewater pipes dated from about 1900 and they had ''done their dash and this is something we want to replace proactively'', Dunedin City Council water and waste services asset and commercial manager (acting) Tom Osborn said.

''They could potentially go a bit longer but we would tend to proactively renew pipes like this because they are on a state highway, because the last thing you want is a collapse.''

Work will begin on Sunday night and is expected to continue until July.

The work will mean Rattray St, between Princes St and the Queens Gardens, would be closed at times to allow the installation of new pipelines through the intersection of Rattray and Crawford Sts.

Planning to lessen any impact on Anzac Day commemorations was ''all in hand'', Mr Osborn said.

Work by contractor Downer Ltd would happen at night, with the road open between 7am and 6pm, he said.

The installation of a bigger stormwater pipeline would also improve localised flooding issues in the area, as the century-old pipeline was below capacity for stormwater flows.

The work is part of a $968,000 contract to renew and upgrade pipelines in the Crawford St/Warehouse Precinct area.

Work started on Vogel St after Christmas, then Water St, before moving to State Highway 1.

Around the Queens Gardens, work would begin outside Harcourts and then move back along Crawford St as far as Jetty St.

The work would mainly, but not always, take place in the left-hand/left-turn traffic lane. Specialist council staff might be used to supervise work carried out near trees.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

 

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