Project Progress
May 2008: The final surfacing along with roadmarking is now completed from Mill Street through to Maeroa Road and beyond to Rua Street. Some of the side roads still require finishing work and the tie-in surfacing on Norton Road between Rua Street and Tahi Street to join with Transit New Zealand’s Avalon Drive project. Likewise, new footpath construction is also well underway and will be completed by the end of the month.The Kent Street/Norton Road and Kent Street/Jolly Street intersections are being remodelled to make Norton–Jolly–Kent the main route into this area. Kent Street is a ‘no exit’ onto Norton Road and ‘no right turn’ from Norton Road into Kent Street. Minor traffic management controls will only be needed for the footpath construction, berm finishing and the tie-in at the end of Norton Road. Work is scheduled to be substantially completed by the end of the month but will be dependant on reasonable weather conditions.
April 2008: The initial Norton Road chip seal surface is completed for the entire project length (from Mill Street to Maeroa Road and beyond to Rua Street) – no more gravel to drive on. We are currently laying the final smooth hotmix surface from Mill Street to Marire Avenue followed by the permanent roadmarking. Construction of the new footpaths is also underway, incorporating vehicle crossings, starting at the Mill Street end and progressing along Norton Road. The Kent Street/Norton Road intersection has been remodelled to become a left turn in only from Norton Road. This means that there is now a no exit from Kent Street into Norton Road and no right turn from Norton Road into Kent Street. The primary access to Kent Street will be via Jolly Street.Now that there is a sealed surface on Norton Road the traffic control will be downgraded to minimise disruptions to the road users allowing two way traffic to be restored on most days and most other restrictions removed at the end of each working day. We are still on track for completion of the work in May 2008 following the Hamilton 400 V8 event which takes place on the 17 to 20 April. Work on the Norton Road upgrade will stop during the Hamilton 400 event, however, the site will be left in a tidy condition.
March 2008: A lot of time and effort has been spent on drainage improvements and service relocations, leaving a clear passage for the remainder of the works to be completed. Reconstruction of the road pavement is well progressed, with kerb reinstatement beginning around Jolly Street. Construction of the new footpaths is also underway, starting from the Mill Street end and progressing along Norton Road. Work on the Kent Street/Norton Road intersection has been largely completed, and soon the proposed changes of no exit from Kent Street onto Norton Road and no right turn from Norton Road into Kent Street will take effect. Kerb reinstatement will continue along Norton Road over the coming period, followed by the initial surfacing for the road.
February 2008: January has seen good progress due to the fine weather, allowing the old road from Jolly to Rua streets to be dug out and aggregate put down. Only the excavation of the new recessed parking bays and the side roads is yet to be completed in this area. We will continue to divert traffic during the day with signage showing the alternative route around the worksite. Two way traffic will be restored at the end of each working day. Work is about to begin on the new street drainage which includes the installation of a 4m deep stormwater manhole at the Maeroa/Norton Road intersection, followed by new kerb and channel along both sides of Norton Road, allowing for the construction of the new road pavement.
December 2007: Due to the fine weather, work has advanced well with the digging out of the old road between Torrington Ave and Jolly Street. No further road excavation will occur this year and Schick will now focus on sealing the works undertaken to date. New kerbing and catchpits to improve road drainage will be in place before the final road shaping, which will quickly be followed by the initial seal and road-marking before our Christmas shutdown (21 December–7 January).
November 2007: The existing kerb has been removed and the old road surface and substructure excavated inpreparation of a firm base for the new road pavement. Currently the work area extends from the intersection at Torrington Ave through to the Empire Street intersection including Hall Lane, Taniwha Street and Parr Street. Work will be progressing further along Norton Road towards the Jolly Street intersection during the month.
October 2007: Reconstruction and shaping of the road surface (carriageway) in Norton Road is programmed to start on 17 October with some service relocation work already underway. Preparation is under way by the contractor to complete all necessary environmental, health and safety, and quality plans. | 
