George St upgrade due to start soon

An upgrade of Dunedin’s main shopping street is due to start after Easter.

Work in George St will begin in the block between Moray Pl and St Andrew St after mid-April, the Dunedin City Council says.

It will represent a significant marker in the planned transformation of the street, and broader city centre, for a project due to end in 2024.

Replacement of underground pipes is to be followed by a makeover of George St, which is to become a slow-speed one-way-traffic route with an enhanced pedestrian environment.

Council central city plan project director Dr Glen Hazelton said the aim of work above ground would be to improve the safety, accessibility and amenity of the area and to create a vibrant, compelling destination where people wanted to spend time and money.

New paving, street furniture, lighting and public art would reinforce the area’s status as the city’s pre-eminent shopping area, the council has said.

The need to replace old water, wastewater and stormwater pipes in the central city — some dating back to the late 1800s — has been cited as the main reason for the broader project.

Initial construction work in George St, for the block between Moray Pl and St Andrew St, is expected to be completed in October.

Tree felling in George St would be done progressively, where required, in parallel with new plantings where this was possible, Dr Hazelton said.

Some work has been carried out already and more is to come.

Replacing underground pipes is to start next week. Isaac Construction would start replacing about 500m of underground pipes in Hanover St, between George and Filleul Sts, and in Filleul St, between Hanover and London Sts, from Monday, he said.

New traffic lights would be installed at the intersection of Hanover and Filleul Sts.

Sections of road would be closed during the work, but some access would remain available for residents and businesses.

A new right-hand turn into the Meridian Mall car park is to be created from Filleul St this week.

Access to the car park from the Hanover St ramp is to be closed for 6-8 weeks.

Work in London St is expected to be finished by Monday and in Frederick St in April, before it is to start in Great King St.

George St retailer Brent Weatherall said the underground work needed doing, but he remained a critic of what the council planned to do above ground in George St.

Retailers in the block were invited to workshops being led by Isaac Construction and council staff, as the team wanted to hear "what matters most for your business or residence during construction works".

Dr Hazelton said feedback could result in refinement to construction plans and improvements in implementation.

Mr Weatherall said the council had not listened to him before and he had no plans to attend the workshop.

-- GRANT MILLER