Western Interceptor project enters final stages
Tunnelling work for the Western Interceptor’s 4km length of pipeline along St Asaph Street has been completed and work is now underway completing the manholes and filling in the tunnelling pits.
The Western Interceptor is part of the 15-year programme of wastewater projects by the Christchurch City Council to help reduce the frequency of wastewater flowing into the Avon River during wet weather and support growth in the west and south-west of Christchurch. The programme is costing more than $150 million.
Tunnelling the pipeline along St Asaph Street, from Fitzgerald Avenue to South Hagley Park, begun in July 2010 and was completed 19 months later in February 2012, several months behind schedule.
The work programme has been affected by the earthquakes and continuing aftershocks, causing damage to construction equipment and some temporary works, and resulting in delays to the tunnelling because of a change in construction methodology to improve worker safety during the aftershocks.
Work on the manholes and pits in St Asaph Street are now expected to be completed at the end of this month, re-opening the street to two-lane traffic.
In the South Hagley Park section of the project, work is progressing on the construction of the last manhole in this area. This is scheduled for completion by the end of July 2012. The ground will then be cleared of all equipment and access roads, ready to be sown with grass seed in early spring.
Work at the other end of the project, in Blenheim Road at the Dalgety Street intersection, gets underway mid next month. This is the last stage of the Western Interceptor, connecting the new sewer pipeline into the existing Southern Relief Sewer.
This final stage of work is currently being redesigned to ensure a better management of sewerage flows at this point of the network. This final stage is expected to take 15 to 20 weeks to complete. The project is now scheduled to be completed before the end of 2012.
The Council acknowledges the disruption which has resulted from this project as a result of the extended construction timeframe and thanks businesses, motorists and residents for their continued patience. Every effort is being made to keep disruption to a minimum.
Businesses open
With the final stage of the project moving back into Blenheim Road, near the Dalgety Street intersection, the community is reminded businesses in this area remain open and there is plenty of alternative parking along the side streets and at the rear of many of these properties.
