Bryce Street works aim to enhance city experience

Road pavement rehabilitation works and development of a Centre Place dining lane are currently underway along Bryce Street in Hamilton, with more works proposed for the area in the coming months.

The project is one of several works currently underway along central city streets.

The development of the Centre Place dining lane fronting onto Bryce Street requires Hamilton City Council to relocate the kerbing and footpath onto road reserve. Previously the footpath and car park queuing lane were located within Centre Place’s property boundary.

Once the kerbing works are complete, a raised junction box will be constructed on the intersection of Bryce and Barton streets, similar to that on the Victoria/Ward street intersection. This will replace the Bryce Street zebra crossing and uncontrolled crossing outside Centre Place.

Chip seal recently laid as part of pre-programmed carriageway pavement rehabilitation works will protect the road structure in the short term until the junction box is completed. The road between Barton and Victoria streets will then be surfaced with asphaltic concrete.

Hamilton City Council city transportation manager Phil Consedine said that until the junction box is installed and asphaltic concrete can be laid, drivers and pedestrians should be mindful that the road will remain in a semi-finished state.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this interim period and urge road users and pedestrians to take extra care along this stretch of road during this time,” he said.

Other proposed streetscape improvements along Bryce Street include new cyclist facilities on the Victoria Street intersection, new street lighting and replacement of the median island between Barton and Anglesea streets with a half roundabout at the Centre Place car park entrance. This will provide an eastbound right turn into the car park and introduce a give way control to westbound traffic.

Two eastbound traffic lanes and one westbound lane will be maintained for general traffic over the length of Bryce Street.

“These proposed works are all aimed at enhancing the flow of traffic and pedestrians on Bryce Street between Victoria and Anglesea streets, and providing a more user-friendly and attractive city environment,” said Mr Consedine.

All works along Bryce Street are scheduled for completion by September.

CityHeart upgrade work also began this week on Ward Street. The current work includes a kerb and channel upgrade, and footpath renewal. The northern footpath is temporarily reduced in width and parking on the northern side of Ward Street is temporarily unavailable. A single traffic lane through Ward Street will remain open throughout most of the work period, which is scheduled to be completed prior the Rugby World Cup.

Work also continues on Anglesea Street to enable Garden Place underground car park’s Anglesea Street entrance to become the main entry/exit point, replacing the current entrance on the corner of Caro and Alexandra streets. The two southbound lanes of Anglesea Street between Ward and Caro streets, are currently closed to traffic while the work is carried out, and short-term parking for those visiting Hamilton City Council has been relocated from Anglesea Street to the Caro Street car park during this period.