New Ashbury sewer will upgrade Grasmere Street area

Work will begin in November on a new 1.1km sewer line that will start under the coastal railway line on Ashbury Park, cross the park and State Highway One and travel along the length of Grasmere Street.

The new $1.26 million sewer, approved by the Timaru District Council this month, will upgrade the existing Grasmere Street sewer line and reduce the sewer overflows that present a public health risk during heavy rain.

The Downer Edi Works contract involves two complex portions of work including the closure of State Highway One and a tunnelling section under the railway embankment.

Eleven manholes would be installed along the line which will follow an almost straight route across the southern section of Ashbury Park, through the wooded area just south of Briscoes car park, across State Highway One at the Evans Street lights and along Grasmere Street to link up with an existing sewer in Douglas Street just beyond the Selwyn Street roundabout.

Council utilities renewal technician Andrew Washington said State Highway One would be closed for one night between 6pm and 7am on a Sunday with a detour that will take both north-bound and south-bound traffic along Hobbs Street, Selwyn Street, and Wai-iti Road.

“There would be some earlier works on State Highway One at the Grasmere Street intersection but that would mean only one-lane closures,” Mr Washington said.

The new sewer increases the diameter of the pipeline from 450mm to 570mm and is made of a product less susceptible to infiltration and root intrusion, he said.

“Under our long term plan a significant upgrade of the Waimataitai catchment sewer network is necessary to meet minimum guidelines for overflows. The whole catchment has been hydraulically modelled.

“But the work is also significant for the long term future growth of the city and is part of the overall infrastructure upgrade undertaken by the council over the last few years,” Mr Washington said.

Beginning on November 1, the work is expected to be completed by mid-April 2012.

ENDS

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