Contractors will hit pause on the roadworks along Riccarton Road for six weeks starting from the beginning of December. The pause has been organised to allow Riccarton retailers a roadworks-free build up to Christmas.

“Riccarton is a busy shopping destination and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to get to where they want to go in the lead up to Christmas,’’ says Christchurch City Council Transport Planning and Delivery Manager Lynette Ellis.

“For that reasons our contractor, Fulton Hogan, will be stopping work on Riccarton Road from 2 December until 5 January 2020. The work sites will be cleared so that traffic can move freely along Riccarton Road,’’ Ms Ellis says.

Fulton Hogan has been working on the Harakeke to Matipo street section of Riccarton Road since the start of the year, upgrading and replacing about one kilometre of old, damaged sewer pipe that is buried about four metres below the road surface. Water supply pipes have also been replaced.

Where the work on water and sewer pipes is complete, the road is being rebuilt and will accommodate bus priority measures.

Ms Ellis says the sewer renewal work has progressed faster than expected. When crews return to work after the Christmas/New Year break they will be focusing on replacing the sewer pipes under the busy intersections of Riccarton Road and Matipo Street and Riccarton Road and Straven Road/Clarence Street.

“Once that work is completed, the contractors will continue with reconstructing the road, installing footpaths, bus lanes, a central median, landscaping and street furniture. This work is already well underway in sections between Harakeke Street and Division Street.

“Unfortunately the sewer renewal work under the two intersections is going to cause significant disruption. We have timed that work to start early in the new year when traffic volumes on Riccarton Road will be relatively light,’’ Ms Ellis says.

The work on the Matipo Street/Riccarton Road intersection will be done during the day while the work on the Riccarton Road/Straven Road/Clarence Street intersection will be done at night to minimise disruption.

Drop-in sessions where Riccarton businesses and residents can learn more about the work planned for next year will be held on:

• Monday 25 November at Yolin Church, 180 Clarence Street, from 5 to 7pm.

• Wednesday 27 November at Yolin Church, 180 Clarence Street, from 10am to midday.