NZTA warns work 'ramping up' on BP roundabout

Work to upgrade Queenstown's BP roundabout will be "ramping up" according to those managing a $250 million roading project.

The New Zealand Transport Agency says crews are preparing to put power, gas, fibre and stormwater pipes underground in and around Gray Street in Frankton, and they will be digging trenches to do so.

As part of the project, focused on freeing up a highway network "at capacity at peak travel times", NZTA is shifting these underground services away from State Highways 6 and 6A and the roundabout.

It has a message for local motorists and residents: "We'll need to temporarily remove on-street parking at times but we’ll make sure you can get to the shops and use the driveway into Frankton Village. Road workers will be guiding you through the construction area – travel safely through the worksites and follow signage and any instructions you receive."

NZTA's design for its rebuilds of two Frankton intersections (Images: Supplied/NZTA).

It says more disruptive work, including trenching across streets and night work, is scheduled to begin from late September.

"We appreciate parking is tight in this neighbourhood due to the loss of on-street carparks during construction, so we’re changing the parking times within the Gray Street carpark during the construction period."

There is now temporary 30 minute parking in place between 8am and 6pm weekdays along the northern side of the Gray Street carpark, and this will remain until works finish on Gray Street.

From today, work will also begin on building a new entrance to the Gray Street car park off McBride Street to maintain access while road workers are in the area.

NZTA estimates the rebuild of the Gray-McBride intersection will take 12 months.

"We will then start construction to change the highway layout and replace the State Highway 6-6A (BP) roundabout with traffic signals."

It acknowledges "a year is a long time and that road works are frustrating" but says this timeframe actually minimises disruption and maximises efficiency while working around restrictive winter conditions.

In April Minister for Transport Simeon Brown turned the first sod to begin construction works on the upgrade project, announcing his government was committing $250 million to it, up from the $113 million first budgeted.

However a report subsequently released to Crux in response to a request for official information revealed despite the extra spend Queenstown commuters will receive less.

While the price tag may have more than doubled, the scope of work has been reduced.

The works are being delivered for the New Zealand Transport Agency via the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna Alliance in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes District Council - the same alliance driving Queenstown's pricey, problem-plagued arterial road project.

Main image (NZTA): The intersection of State Highways 6 and 6A is already at capacity during peak travel times, according to NZTA.