Preliminary work begins on two watermain replacements along Mowat Street and Ward Street in Springlands, Blenheim from next week.

Council’s Projects Engineer Damith Chanaka said the work was part of the continuing upgrade of services and replacement of ageing infrastructure.

“The new, larger diameter PVC watermains will replace the ageing pipes, provide better flows and improve system resilience,” he said. “Lateral connections to homeowner tobies will also be replaced where needed.”

The Mowat Street $765,000 upgrade sees the watermain between Old Renwick Road and Mogridge Place replaced.

Work is planned in four phases to minimise disruption, with the first two stages running over six weeks from Mogridge Place to Fulton Street. The remaining stages will be carried out over eight weeks and runs from Fulton Street to Old Renwick Road. Fulton Hogan Ltd is undertaking the work. The Northern Bus Route may see some temporary disruptions but will operate throughout.

The Ward Street $548,000 upgrade sees the watermain between Murphys and Colemans Roads replaced. Works are scheduled for completion in early July. Schick Construction Ltd is undertaking this.

Works on both sites will start on Monday 13 April to locate underground services.

The aim is to keep disruption to a minimum but there will be stop/go, single lane and road closures at key times from Monday 20 April. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses, with the contractors providing up-to-date information to residents on traffic management changes as the projects’ progress.

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