Friday 8 February 2013

Balclutha main street upgrade update

Clutha District Council has accepted tenders from three different design consultants to provide proposals for the Balclutha main street upgrade.

Manager District Assets Jules Witt said the successful tenderers were MWH/LA4 Partnership, Baxter/SouthRoads Traffic Design Group Partnership, and Boffa Miskell.

Mr Witt said the successful tenderers would now put together concept designs and estimates for the upgrade.

A working party made up of members of the Balclutha Traffic Management Study Reference Group, plus several main street retailers, would then help to select concept designs before putting them out to the wider public for consultation.

“Council has chosen three design consultants so that a range of options can be presented for consultation with the public,” Mr Witt said. “At this stage, we expect the concept designs will be released for public consultation around the middle of the year.”

Through last year’s Long Term Plan process, Council set a total budget of $2.6 million for the project including $400,000 for the undergrounding of power lines in the main CBD area and $550,000 worth of footpath upgrades.

Mr Witt said that exactly what the rest of the upgrade would include would depend on the proposals received. But it could potentially include redesign of road layouts, new street furniture and plantings to enhance the area.

ENDS