The section of road between Moray Pl and the Octagon has been closed since May, while essential pipe replacement work was completed as part of the Bath St pipe upgrade project.
Dunedin City Council infrastructure services committee chairman Jim O’Malley said although attempts had been made to minimise the inconvenience of the road closure as much as possible, staff knew the works had been disruptive for the public and for lower Stuart St businesses.
"We also realise these have come at a time when businesses across New Zealand have been contending with challenging economic conditions.
"We’re incredibly grateful to lower Stuart St property owners, tenants and residents for their patience while we carried out this essential work, and we are pleased to be reopening the road on schedule on November 1 — early in the cruise ship season."
DCC senior project manager Susil Gunathilake said the works involved digging and later refilling a 5m-deep hole to unearth pipes dating back as far as 1887, which meant cutting through asphalt and concrete, and digging through layers of old fill.
Before replacing the pipes, sheet piles had to be installed inside the excavation site to protect workers and the surrounding buildings.
"Normally these piles would be vibrated in, but to safeguard local heritage buildings, they were pushed in instead," he said.
"The excavation site has since been filled in, and hoardings are being removed in preparation for reopening the block to traffic this Friday."
Mr Gunathilake said archaeologists on-site had found some "interesting heritage structures".
"We discovered makeshift wooden steps we believe were put in by the workers who constructed the mains more than a century ago.
"The work also exposed foundations of the horse stables that used to occupy part of the 326 Moray Pl site, which were built from brick and bluestone rock in 1869."
Mr Gunathilake said the project team’s focus would now move to replacing pipes in Bath St.
As a result, a section of the street between John Swan & Co Ltd and Age Concern Otago — known as work zone D — would be closed to traffic, but pedestrian access would be maintained.
"Most of the work in work zone D is scheduled for completion at the end of January.
"However, some minor finishing work can be expected beyond this date."
Following that, work would continue along Bath St towards George St, he said.
"In addition, we are rerouting pipes beneath the floor of the building at 326 Moray Pl."
All pipe replacement work in Bath St was expected to be completed by the end of April, and the roading upgrade in Bath St was scheduled for completion in October.
