Central Balclutha, looking north down Clyde St (State
Highway 1) towards the Clutha River. Charlotte St on the
left and James St on the right run parallel to Clyde St.
Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Ten proposals on the $2.6 million upgrade of Balclutha's
main street have been received, and work is expected to begin
later this year.
Last month, the Clutha District Council began advertising for
''suitably experienced design consultants'' to provide
proposals for the upgrade. As part of the long-term plan
process last year, the council budgeted $2.6 million for the
upgrade to take place over the next two years.
Council district assets manager Jules Witt said the upgrade
could include redesign of road layouts, new footpath paving,
kerbing and channelling, street furniture and more plantings.
The closing date for proposals was December 17, and Mr Witt
said 10 proposals were submitted.
Council offices reopened yesterday after the Christmas-New
Year break and Mr Witt said staff were evaluating the
proposals, before short-isting them for the second stage by
the end of the month. The second stage is the concept-design
and estimate-development stage.
The designs, estimates and pricing would be the basis for
selection for the third stage, the detailed design and
construction.
Jules Witt.
A working party made up of members of the Balclutha
traffic management study reference group and several main
street retailers would help to select concept designs before
putting them out to the public for consultation.
Last year, the council consulted on shifting State Highway 1
from the main street to one of the heavy traffic bypasses, on
James St and Charlotte St.
The process drew 769 submissions, 95% of which supported the
status quo - retaining the two heavy-traffic bypasses and
State Highway 1 passing through on Clyde St. Two-thirds of
the submissions were from Balclutha residents.
Last month Mr Witt said there was now a firm commitment to
retain the bypasses, and Clyde St as the State Highway route.
helena.dereus@odt.co.nz
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