​Infrastructure upgrades on Union Street/State Highway 1, Milton

5 February 2026

Significant wastewater and stormwater upgrades will be getting underway on Union Street/State Highway 1 Milton in the next few weeks, which are expected to take about three and half months to complete.

This work will renew the wastewater and stormwater pipes between Melville Avenue in the north and Springfield Road in the south. The replacement work also extends into Melville Ave and connects into Park Rd (see map showing work area marked in red).

Stage 1 of Clutha District Council’s four stage project began last week (27 January), with investigative work to confirm alignment for the new pipes along the Union St side of Four Square Milton and 213 Union St.

Stage 2, which was advertised this week in Milton publication the Genesis and in a letter drop to start after Waitangi Weekend, has now been delayed to allow consultation with Heritage NZ about protocols regarding any archaeological finds should they be encountered during the project. Work is now scheduled to commence towards the end of February. This will involve the laying of wastewater and stormwater lines in the trench running parallel to the kerb and channel. A two-lane diversion will be set up with two crews working: one starting from the Four Square, the other from Duthie St, moving north. This stage will also involve setting up a temporary site office on the Duthie St/Union St corner. The intersection will close when the crew commences work on this stage and will be closed for the duration of the project.

“It will be great to see this important project getting underway in the next few weeks,” Group Manager – Infrastructure Strategy and Delivery Donna McArthur, said.

“The upgrade will improve and future-proof the town's infrastructure, which in turn will contribute to Milton being a great place to live and work.”

A confirmed NZTA-approved traffic management plan will be put in place at each stage for the work to be carried out safely. The aim is to maintain two lanes of traffic for most of the work, however, there may be short periods when a detour is required for the southbound SH1 traffic between Melville Ave and Springfield Rd.

The Four Square will be open throughout the project and will have periods when access is only available from Springfield Rd, as it was during the recent investigative stage.

Council will be keeping the community informed of the traffic management required and the start dates for stages 3-4, which will include installing the lateral connections to the new main line and to cut in the new sewer line in the manhole on Springfield Rd.

Council’s contractor Isaac Construction will be working to minimise any disruption to parking and from noise throughout the project and encourages people to get in touch with any specific access requirements. Council may require the use of driveways and road access on occasion, and Isaac Construction staff will be on the ground to talk to residents about this.

For regular updates go to website: Milton waste & stormwater replacement (Melville Ave - Springfield Rd) - Clutha District Council.