Transit NZ will attempt to minimise disruption to main-street businesses in central Oamaru when it undertakes a multimillion-dollar safety improvement project later this year.
Tenders have been called for the project, estimated to cost about $3.1 million, and will close on August 19.
The appointed contractor should begin work at the start of September.
The project involves major roadworks, including installing traffic lights at some Thames St intersections between Severn and Orwell Sts, and is expected to take between six and eight months.
Some businesses were worried the work might affect turnover, but Transit's regional projects manager, Simon Underwood, said the aim was to minimise disruption.
The biggest effects would be work on the central median, which could affect parking, and paving footpaths, in conjunction with the Waitaki District Council.
Transit would notify businesses when that work would occur.
That notice would be followed up by the contractor, who would be required to give two or three weeks' notice to property owners before work was done outside their premises.
The contract would prohibit work in the two to three weeks before Christmas so as not to interfere with Christmas shopping.
The contract completion date was April 10 next year, providing a contractor was selected on schedule.
That gave the contractor some flexibility to manage the work around contract limitations.
Mr Underwood said the target also meant the work would be completed about two weeks before Anzac Day - important because of services planned by the North Otago RSA at the relocated Boer War monument at the Thames-Severn-Coquet Sts intersection.
The monument has been dismantled and excavation done for new foundations about 40m south along lower Thames St from its former site.
