Queen Street work starts next week.

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The first phase of work to upgrade Queen Street’s underground water pipes begins next week.

Over the next few weeks, Tasman District Council’s contractor Downer will lay a small water pipeline on the library side of Queen St, between Gladstone Rd and Sundial Square, as well as install communication and power ducts. Other work will involve moving above ground power boxes out of Queen St wherever possible.

This initial relatively minor job is the first phase of the multi-million-dollar Queen St upgrade, in which ageing and undersized stormwater, water and wastewater pipes will be replaced and the street’s surface reshaped to better control floodwaters. The street surface will be replaced to a new design intended to make the street safer, and more accessible for all pedestrians.

Major infrastructure upgrades on the street begin in February 2017.

Tasman District Council project manager Jeannie Homesley says carrying out this smaller job first would reduce the risk of disruption to water services during next year’s works, and allow the major upgrades to be carried out faster.

“Downer will be doing some of the work at night to minimise any disruption to businesses and users of Queen Street. A small number of car parking spaces will be unavailable at times while Downer dig a trench and install the new pipe,” Jeannie says.

Downer would be in touch with individual shops and properties to advise the details and timing of any water shutdowns needed to connect the new pipe, Jeannie says.