Milton Main Street FAQ's

We are replacing aged infrastructure with a new stormwater system along Union Street and wastewater pipes. This also gave us the opportunity to upgrade pipe capacity, addressing long-standing flooding issues and planning for future growth in Milton.

Once this is done our contractors will then work with PowerNet to install underground power cables and remove the power poles and overhead power lines. Some drinking water pipes will also be replaced while the undergrounding work is happening under the footpath.

Union Street, Milton from High Street to Abercrombie Street. Work will be completed in 50 metre sections to minimise disruption to residents, retailers and motorists as much as possible.

We are replacing aged infrastructure with a new stormwater system along Union Street and wastewater pipes. This also gave us the opportunity to upgrade pipe capacity, addressing long-standing flooding issues and planning for future growth in Milton.

We asked the community what they wanted and improving Milton’s main street was one of the top priorities identified in the Our Place Milton community plan.

Milton’s main street is a busy route for motorists on State Highway 1, as well as a major focal point for the community, with many important buildings, shops and public spaces. This project will replace critical infrastructure and is a big step towards revitalising Union Street, making it a more attractive destination.

Investing in infrastructure and promoting growth are key outcomes detailed in Council’s Living and Working in Clutha Strategy that overarch and support this project.

Work starts at the bottom end of High Street at the pump station on 19 June 2023, reaching Union Street intersection in approximately eight weeks. Then proceeding north section by section along Union Street, (RSA side).

Main street construction begins on 3 July 2023 as contractors work along Ossian Street towards the main street and then across the main street renewing the existing wastewater pipe.

The entire project is expected to take over a year and there will be long term minor disruption.

Andrew Haulage (2011) Ltd are contracted to install a new stormwater system and replace aged wastewater and drinking water pipes. PowerNet will install underground power cables and remove overhead power lines and poles.

This work is also in collaboration with Waka Kotahi as Milton's main street is also a State Highway.

Contractors will work from the South end up, starting with renewal of aged utilities and installation of a new stormwater system. It will be completed in stages.

The first crew will start in South end of High Street at the Pope Street intersection on 20 June. It is expected to take this crew 8 weeks to reach the Union Street intersection (approximately 18 August 2023).

Work will start on the main street in the first week of July 2023, with replacement of wastewater pipes between Ossian and Edward streets on Union Street. Then on to Edward Street at the Ajax Street end and will take a week to get to Union Street.

Then back at the South end contractors will go along the West side of Union Street (Presbyterian Church side) and is expected to reach Abercrombie Street by 24 April 2024.

Once the stormwater and wastewater pipe work has been done on the West side contractors will move to the East side (Subway side) to begin footpath excavation for the undergrounding of powerlines and to replace some drinking water pipes. They will move along section by section to minimise disruption.

The footpath will be reinstated temporarily, as once they have completed stormwater renewals along the main street, they will then come back along pulling overhead lines and poles.

Contractors are aiming to replace 7 meters of pipes on the main street a day. They need to dig quite deep (over 2 metres) to replace the stormwater and replace wastewater network. While they are working on one side of the road, the parking lane on the other side will become a temporary traffic lane.

Detours may be needed on our local roads at some stages of this work.

There is a detailed traffic management plan for this project to ensure safety. Our contractor may report violations to Police.

When contractors are operating stop/go motorists can expect delays of up to seven minutes. This can be related to the work to remove excavated material and old pipes when loaded onto the trucks and taken away.

Please add in extra travel time.

This work will take over a year to complete and there is potential for delays on our local roads including weather and potential heritage and cultural factors depending on what is found underground.

Council is working alongside contractors to ensure the work is done in a timely manner and people are informed of potential delays.

We will provide regular updates to keep people informed of the project’s progress to achieve the best outcomes in this period of change.

This cannot happen because due to the sheer size of the project and number of utilities affected. It is a complex job at depth involving existing infrastructure. The length of stormwater pipe being installed is 1.5km, 375m wastewater, and 1.55km of watermain renewal. The disruption would also not be acceptable for motorists, visitors, Milton residents and businesses.

Yes, just not along the section where the contractors are working.

Parking will be affected three times. First when the stormwater installation is happening outside a business, in the parking lane then when undergrounding of power cables is being done and finally during the removal of overhead power lines and poles.

Car parks will be not be available for the section being working on, this will affect approximately 50 metres at a time.

On average parking will be out of action in front of each shop for approximately three weeks.

Please note weather conditions may create delays to this timeframe. There is a possibility of uncovering pre 1900 infrastructure items that are subject to archaeological discovery protocols. In these instances, it will also delay the construction progress.

There will still be footpath access to shops on both sides.

Each section being worked on will be surrounded by safety fencing to protect the worksite, traffic, and people.

Council is working alongside contractors to ensure the work is done in a timely manner and businesses are informed of potential delays.

We will provide regular updates to keep businesses informed of the project’s progress.

If you have any concerns, please call Council on 0800 801 350 and staff will work to resolve the issue.

Most of the time, yes. But when a water connection needs to be commissioned, affected businesses will be contacted by the contractor in advance to arrange a suitable time.

We are installing a significantly bigger pipe to provide better capacity in case of heavy rain events. This will capture stormwater currently discharging from commercial and residential properties onto the street, producing overland flow down Union Street. The new system will take this stormwater into the new underground stormwater system.

Council engaged Fluent Consultants to conduct a storm disposal model. Based on their findings and subsequent designs we believe it is prudent to carry out the upgrade in conjunction with the Milton Streetscape project to improve future flooding risks.

Burying the power cables has been described as ‘instant beautification’ for the main street, as well as improving visibility for pedestrians and motorists. New streetlights will also be installed.

There may be some minor power outages to allow for reconnections. This is planned for weekends to minimise disruption to retailers and business owners. PowerNet will inform affected residents of these outages.

Please contact Council on 0800 801 350 if you are experiencing any issues regarding this work and Council staff will follow up with contractors to achieve a way forward.

In the 2018-28 Long Term Plan Council confirmed the Milton main street upgrade project as a multi-year project and set aside budget to proceed.

In May Council awarded the tender to replace aged infrastructure and the installation of a new stormwater system along Union Street (from High Street to Abercrombie Street) to Andrew Haulage for $6,295,856.86.

The Milton Streetscape landscaping is a separate project and along with a new footpath, will be completed in the future.

Andrew Haulage are working Monday to Friday from 8am - 4.30pm and every second Saturday. When they are not working onsite both lanes on the main street will be open.

There may be some work done on a Sunday, particularly if they are going across the main street. By doing this work on a Sunday it is hoped to be less disruptive to motorists than during the week.