The first stage of an 18-month streets upgrade will soon get underway in Invercargill’s city centre, starting with essential work on underground pipes on Dee and Don Streets. 

The Invercargill City Centre Streets Upgrade – Don and Esk is part of a much bigger City Centre Master Plan to connect city projects and make public spaces more attractive.

Invercargill City Council Infrastructure Group Manager Erin Moogan said the work would transform the heart of the city, but some short-term disruption to business, retailers and visitors could be expected. 

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“With streets upgrade work expected to take around 18 months to complete, we’re committed to working closely with our city retailers, business owners and the community to minimise disruption as much as possible, while pushing ahead with work as quickly as we can,” Ms Moogan said. 

In order to align with the opening dates for other developments, the design of the Don and Esk streets upgrade is being finalised while the underground work gets underway. 

Those designs would be finalised in May and shared with the community as soon as they had been confirmed, Ms Moogan said.

There would be information sessions about the plans and what the construction period meant for businesses and the community, she said. 

The project would include road closures and lane reductions. There would be regular communication with retailers while the work was being done, she said.

City Centre Governance Group chairman John Green said the project was one many that were “incredibly positive for Invercargill’’.

The group was established to guide and champion the city streets upgrade and includes councillors, staff, business and community representatives.

It also provides a vehicle for city centre businesses to influence the outcomes. 

“One of the challenges will be connecting everyone and making sure businesses and the community are getting the information they need.

“We know that there will be significant disruption to retailers, shoppers, road users and others. The best thing the council can do is keep talking to everyone affected, listen to their feedback, respond where possible and push ahead with the work,” Mr Green said. 

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