News Archive

SCIRT work crews in the suburbs are mostly treated very well by residents, given the inconveniences they have to live with for weeks or months while their street’s services are repaired. The way people treat the crews can make a project a grind or a rewarding experience. It's worth reminding ourselves that the rebuild heroes are as much the residents of Christchurch as they are the people doing the work at the coal face, or in SCIRT's case, the muddy trench.

From next week (27 May) SCIRT delivery team Fletcher’s work site in Montreal Street shifts south to the intersection with Hereford Street. Currently the work site is around the Worcester Boulevard intersection. A new gravity wastewater pipe is being installed in a trench along Montreal Street, from Cambridge Terrace to Cranmer Square. The new section of work runs from Hereford Street back to Cashel Street, largely a residential block, on the west side. 

Manchester Street, one way block for a month Part of Manchester Street between Aberdeen Street and Bealey Avenue is closed to southbound traffic from today for a month. One lane will remain open to northbound traffic heading towards Bealey Avenue from the city. A diversion route is in place with signs. SCIRT delivery team Fletcher had planned to put the one-way in place next week but work has been brought forward.

There has been lots of discussion in the media this week on the effects of SCIRT works on businesses, particularly ones reliant upon people having easy access to parking.  SCIRT aims to get the work done as efficiently and safely as possible so businesses are not unnecessarily affected by major pipe projects. In Montreal Street, Fletcher's crews are working 12 hours a day 7 am to 7 pm, seven days a week to get past the businesses near the Art Gallery and free up their parking spaces.

Bealey Avenue, Colombo Street intersection This segment of Bealey Avenue has been one lane only eastbound for almost three weeks now for SCIRT wastewater pipe work.  Today it is going back to two lanes and a third lane will open up once plant is safely shifted.

Lord Ted, as Gary McCormick is known when in poetic mode on Christchurch radio station MoreFM, recently penned a rosy-tinted ode to the people rebuilding our roads (including pipes, we are pretty sure). “Forget sweet perfumes and all of that, what we want is the steaming black,” will resonate with many of us living with road works on our doorstep and on our way to work and back each day. For some of us the steaming black cannot come quickly enough, usually at the end of a big pipe project.  Fresh tarseal is a very good sign. Nice work Lord Ted.

SCIRT delivery team Downer had hoped to have Bealey Avenue eastbound back to two lanes across the Colombo Street intersection mid this week. However, events and the bad weather have reduced those chances. They are now aiming to have this arterial route back to two lanes early next week (13 May). See earlier works notice on this new wastewater pipe project  which extends up Colombo Street as far as Edgeware Road over the coming months.  

The new school term starts on Monday, 6 May. Some significant changes to city streets will affect the morning and evening rush periods – in particular on Montreal Street and initially also on Bealey Avenue. SCIRT reminds everyone to take care as the daylight shortens and visibility on the roads is reduced. To help plan your trips, use www.transportforchristchurch.govt.nz Central city:

SCIRT delivery team Fletcher is currently working underneath the Horotane Valley Road overpasses on State Highway 74 (the Lyttelton tunnel road) repairing the bridge piers. There are two bridges running parallel, taking traffic to and from the Lyttelton tunnel. Normally the two bridges separate the traffic flows towards and away from the Lyttelton tunnel on the city side. However to repair each bridge the two-way flows will be combined like a normal road. Slower speeds will be required and care  need to be taken.

SCIRT work on the wastewater pipes at the corner of Bickerton Street and Wainoni Road in Wainoni is shifting east to the Helanca Avenue/ Bickerton Street corner on Wednesday, 8 May.   This will free up access to the shops on the Bickerton Street/ Wainoni Road corner.   The new work site will close the Helanca Avenue/Bickerton Street  intersection to traffic.   To allow access to Helanca Avenue, the Shortland Street/ Tahuna Street intersection is reopening through to Bickerton Street and Wainoni Road. 

Bealey Avenue, St Albans – currently Bealey Avenue is one lane eastbound at the Colombo St intersection for both weeks of the school holidays. Salisbury Street is an alternative route to the east. Details and map works notice.

As of Wednesday 24 April, drivers going north from Lincoln Road on Wrights Road will no longer be able to turn left into Birmingham Drive. The roundabout was opened up in recent weeks to allow two-way access as far as Halls Place to businesses in this area. This occurred when difficulties with the water main at the roundabout changed the sequence of work for this major wastewater pipe project.