Huia 1 watermain upgrade

Project overview

We are renewing the large-diameter watermain called Huia No.1 which has reached the end of its useful life. The watermain was built in the 1940s after World War II. To extend its life we rehabilitated the watermain in the 1980s but we now need to build a new pipe. Over the next few years, the 15,556 metre pipe is being built in sections across West and Central Auckland.

Please refer to the overall site map to show the completed sections of works and our current construction areas.

White Swan Road

The chamber construction works have started and are estimated to take 3-4 months to complete. We will operate a stop-go traffic system when required (only between the hours of 9am-3pm) along White Swan Road. The reason why we couldn’t undertake these works at the time we laid the watermain is that we wouldn’t have enough space to carry out both construction activities simultaneously and wouldn’t have been able to maintain adequate traffic flows.

How will this affect you?

Working hours

• From 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 4pm on Saturday including some statutory holidays.

Traffic management

• We will operate a stop-go traffic system when required (only between the hours of 9am-3pm) along White Swan Road.

Water supply not impacted

• Your water supply will not be impacted by these works.

Gillies Avenue and St Andrews Road

These works started on Monday 19 August and will take until approximately late January to complete. To minimise disruption to the community we will be undertaking the works through slip lining. The new pipe is a transmission watermain and won’t impact your household's water supply.

Please refer to the overall site map below for the entire section of work (shown by the orange line).

The works will initially start on Gillies Avenue, however, other work sites on King George Avenue and St Andrews Road will open not long after. For detailed site information including the traffic management set-up for each section of works, please view the maps below.

Gillies Avenue and King George Avenue works

King George Avenue and St Andrews Road works

St Andrews Road works

St Andrews Road section up to the St Andrews Road/Watling Street intersection

How will this affect you?

Work hours

• 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 4pm on Saturday including some statutory holidays.

Traffic management

• Lane closures and detours will be required during the watermain construction for the safety of the public and our workers. Please follow the directions of site personnel and all site signage to keep everyone safe.

• Some street parking will need to be temporarily removed near the work site to allow traffic management to be set up as part of the approved traffic management plan.

Construction noise

• Construction works will generate some noise and vibration; however, levels will be kept to a minimum and in accordance with Auckland Council and consent requirements.

No impact to your water supply

• Water supply to properties will not be affected during these works.

Heaphy Street

From 2 July, our contractor will start installing a line valve chamber and new section of watermain along Heaphy Street (near the Blockhouse Bay Road roundabout). These works are estimated to take until approximately November. Traffic management will be in place in the form of a one-way detour along Heaphy Street. Access out of Heaphy Street onto the roundabout will be maintained but there will be no access into Heaphy Street from the roundabout.

• Working hours will be from 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday

• While the work may generate some noise, please be assured that it will be kept to a minimum and within levels approved by Auckland Council

• Please refer to the map below for the works area and traffic management in place

General traffic management FAQs

Q: Why do we not have tidal flow (changing of traffic flows during the day and night)?

A: Tidal flow is a viable option where there are multiple lanes that can be changed i.e. Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Where there is only one lane through residential streets, tidal flow is not feasible. It is not safe for local residents as traffic flows change during the day and confusion around traffic direction could occur.

Q: Why don’t we use traffic lights or stop-go operations?

A: This is not feasible due to the length of the work sites. Traffic queues would become too long making it less efficient than one way traffic.

Q: How will we notify road users?

A: VMS digital sign boards are the most effective way to communicate with road users. In advance of the works we implemented VMS boards.​