A $2.5m funding boost will allow for a much needed upgrade to the Oak Gr roundabout, Ashburton District Council says.
The roundabout, at the corner of Oak Gr, Walnut Ave, Belt Rd and Harrison St, has been on council’s radar for reconstruction for some time, and the project was set to be done before June.
It will also include the rehabilitation of an extra section of Fairfield Rd.
Council infrastructure group manager Neil McCann said the New Zealand Transport Agency had increased the budget for its subsidised work programme in the district by $2.5 million this financial year.
It meant a subsidy could be claimed for the $1 million dollars of reseals and $0.5 million of unsealed maintenance metalling, budgeted as unsubsidised.
It also allows the proposed additional sealed road rehabilitation to be completed.
“Council’s share of that extra work is $1.225m, and we can meet that from our existing unsubsidised roading budget. We were advised of the extra funding just before Christmas, so now we’re able to make more improvements to our roading network.”
McCann said a section of Fairfield Rd was already included in a separate road rehabilitation contract awarded to Fulton Hogan, and the extra funds from NZTA meant that section could be extended.
“We’re really pleased that NZTA recognises the need for work on our network and we have the resources to get the work done within the next few months.”
Fulton Hogan and ACL have started rehabilitation on two sections of Thompsons Track and that work is due to be completed by the end of March.
Work is due to start on the section of Fairfield Rd, between Company Rd and Singletree Rd.
