Huia 1 watermain upgrade

A watermain replacement project to cater for population growth.

Start–finish: June 2019 - ongoing in stages
Location: Sections through Mt Roskill, New Lynn and Titirangi
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What are we doing?

We are renewing the large-diameter watermain called Huia No.1 which has reached the end of its useful life. The watermain was built in the 1940s after World War II. To extend its life we rehabilitated the watermain in the 1980s but we now need to build a new pipe. Over the next few years, the 15.5km pipe is being built in sections across West and Central Auckland.

Work happening in your neighbourhood

Update on works on Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay

Our contractor for the project, March Cato, has begun installing a replacement watermain pipeline using the trenching method along Donovan Street on 27 December 2023. They started at the roundabout and continue until Boundary Road. These works will be carried out in five stages (please note, the stage five works is yet to be confirmed).  

We are happy to report that these works are progressing well, and we have now laid the new watermain from the Blockhouse Bay roundabout (roundabout with the intersection of Donovan Street, Kinross Street, Blockhouse Bay Road, and Heaphy Street) up to approximately 56 Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay. 

Please refer to the map below showing the current traffic management setup (stage 2 works). This traffic management setup will be in place until 8 March 2024 from 26 Donovan Street (opposite Countdown) to the Donovan Street/Lewis Road intersection. 

Current Donovan Street Works
Click here for a larger version of the map above


Upcoming Stage 3 works 

From approximately, 11 March 2024 until the 23 March 2024 our crew will be working between Rathlin Street and Whitney Street installing this section of watermain.  

Traffic management will be in place in the form of one lane open travelling in a west bound direction and a detour will be in place around the works area for cars travelling in an east bound direction. Rathlin Street and Whitney Street will remain open. Please refer to the map below for the works area and traffic management in place.  
Next Donovan Street Works
Click here for a larger version of the map above
 

How will this affect you? 

  • Working hours will be from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 4pm on Saturday including some Statutory Holidays. 

  • Traffic management will be in place 24/7 during construction for the safety of the public, traffic, and our workers. The road will be closed near open excavations, resident access past the excavation area may be restricted during working hours. The traffic controllers on site will advise when you can get past. Please expect delays. Vehicle access is unavailable for properties near the open excavations. If there is a need for vehicle access to your property to be restricted, you will be notified in advance of the exact timing of the restrictions with a separate notice. 

  • Traffic management such as lane and road closures will be required during the watermain construction for the safety of the public and our workers. Please follow the direction of site personnel and all site signage to keep everyone safe. Please keep an eye out closer to the time for regular updates via our website, email, social media, and letters. 

  • Some street parking will need to be temporarily removed near the work site to allow traffic management to be set up as part of the approved traffic management plan. 

  • Construction works will generate some noise and vibration; however, levels will be kept to a minimum and in accordance with Auckland Council and consent requirements. 

  • Please note that water supply to properties will not be affected during these works.  

Thank you for your patience while we carry out these important works.  
 

Works on McCullough Avenue and Scout Avenue, Mt Roskill

You may be aware that our crew has been busy laying the watermain on McCullough Avenue, Mt Roskill. These works are progressing well, and our crew is currently at 78 McCullough Avenue. Over the next couple of weeks (before the Christmas break), our crew will continue to work up McCullough Avenue onto Scout Avenue, where we will construct the watermain up to the Scout Avenue/Mt Albert Road intersection. As we move up Scout Avenue, we will be reducing the number of road closures.

Our crew will finish work on 22 December, returning on 8 January 2024 to complete this section of works which we estimate will be done by late March 2024.

We will move to the below traffic management plan from around 15 December.

How will this affect you?

  • Working hours will be from 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 2pm on Saturday including some statutory holidays. 

  • Traffic management will be in place 24/7 during construction for the safety of the public, road users, and our workers. The road will be closed near open excavations, and resident access past the excavation area may be restricted during working hours. The traffic controllers on-site will advise when you can get past. Please expect delays. Vehicle access is unavailable for properties near the open excavations. If we need to restrict vehicle access to your property, you will be notified in advance. 

  • Please note, a detour will be in place while we install the watermain on McCullough Avenue and Scout Avenue.  

  • Some street parking will need to be temporarily removed near the work site to allow traffic management to be set up as part of the approved traffic management plan. 

  • Construction works will generate some noise and vibration; however, levels will be kept to a minimum and in accordance with Auckland Council and consent requirements. 

  • Please note that water supply to properties will not be affected during these works.

Upcoming project areas

Epsom  

St Andrews Road to Gillies Avenue: Dates still to be confirmed.

General traffic management FAQs

Q: Why do we not have tidal flow (changing of traffic flows during the day and night)?
A: Tidal flow is a viable option where there are multiple lanes that can be changed i.e. Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Where there is only one lane through residential streets, tidal flow is not feasible. It is not safe for local residents as traffic flows change during the day and confusion around traffic direction could occur.

Q: Why don’t we use traffic lights or stop-go operations?
A: This is not feasible due to the length of the work sites. Traffic queues would become too long making it less efficient than one way traffic.

Q: How will we notify road users?
A: VMS digital sign boards are the most effective way to communicate with road users. In advance of the works we implemented VMS boards.​

Any questions?

Please email [email protected] If you no longer wish to receive updates, please click here with and we will remove you from our contacts list.

Newsletters

Huia 1 watermain: December 2023 newsletter
Huia 1 watermain: June 2023 newsletter
Huia 1 watermain: December 2022 newsletter
Huia 1 watermain: Winstone Road to Duke Street - August 2020 newsletter
Huia 1 watermain: Pascoe Street to Marion Avenue - August 2020 newsletter
Huia 1 watermain: Titirangi section: August 2020 newsletter
Huia 1 watermain: Puketāpapa - June 2022 newsletter

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