The end is, allegedly, in sight.
Queenstown council’s property and infrastructure boss Peter Hansby says the Beach Street upgrade, which seems to have moved at a glacial pace, will be 99.9% done by Friday — some seating’s just got to be finished off there next year.
All general parking’s been removed from Lower Beach St — it’ll be a ‘‘low-speed, high-quality shared zone’’ — but people can drop off and pick up passengers and goods at any time, while mobility permit-holders will be able to park for up to an hour.
And while Rees St won’t be finished till Easter, Hansby says all concrete pours, garden beds, and street lights will be finished there before this weekend, too, while paving and street lights will also be done on Lower Brecon St.
Work’s also underway to create a new carpark on the former QPACT site, off Ballarat St.
Part of mayor Glyn Lewers’ election promise, the first stage of the planned ‘‘temporary’’ carpark, for up to 10 years, envisaged almost 60 vehicles, at least two accessible parks, and possibly nine EV parks.
Hansby says about 20 new parks will be available there by the weekend.
Meantime, construction work’s stopping on shovel-ready construction sites around the CBD over the next few weeks.
Work on Upper Brecon St, and intersection with Shotover and Rees Streets will stop from December 24 till January 22 — while Rees St will still be closed to traffic, Lower Beach St’s accessible via Cow Lane.
Gorge Road’s reopening to through traffic from Christmas Eve till January 8, while Beetham St will remain closed, other than for residential access.
Hansby says it’s ‘‘no secret’’ the disruptions from the works have been ‘‘challenging’’.
‘‘We’re so close to completion and incredibly grateful for the support.’’
