Update 1 August
The temporary fix to the stormwater pipe in College Hill has been completed and the tomo (cavity/hole in the road) has now been backfilled with a temporary seal on the road.
Phase two of the work is about to start, this is the original project to fully upgrade the stormwater pipe along with new and upgraded catchpits that was planned to start this month.
Handover from our emergency contractors to the phase two project contractors will take place on or before Thursday 3 August, with single lane traffic flow in both directions in place for the duration of the phase two work.
Access to commercial and residential properties will be maintained, and footpaths will remain accessible with any closures or diversions clearly signposted.
Phase two works are due to be completed by December 2023.
Update 31 July
Contractors have completed the temporary fix to the pipe and the sinkhole has been backfilled. They are now working on sealing the road.
Traffic to the two outer lanes is expected to be restored on Wednesday. The inner lanes will remain closed as the council begins planned works to replace the entire stormwater pipeline. These works are expected to be completed within four months.
Update 27 July
Initial repair works to the stormwater pipe are underway and on track to be completed by early next week, with works to continue through the weekend.
Once these works are complete, the outer eastbound and westbound lanes of College Hill will open to traffic. These will remain open throughout the remainder of the pipe renewal project, with works contained to the two central lanes.
Buses are currently being diverted from the area, but during the second phase of works starting next week, two bus stops on College Hill will be temporarily moved, impacting four frequent services including the InnerLink and OuterLink.
Access to commerical and residential properties will be maintained and footpaths will remain accessible with any closures or diversions clearly signposted.
Update 25 July
On Monday 24 July a large tomo (hole in the ground) opened in College Hill in Freemans Bay.
Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team has been on site and identified that a stormwater pipe that was due for replacement in August had developed further damage, causing the soil and road above it to subside.
This damaged pipe is a 450mm diameter ceramic pipe built in 1915. The design process for the replacement of this pipe had been fast-tracked after it first showed signs of damage during the cyclone, and the council has been working with Auckland Transport over the past few weeks to put a traffic management plan in place for the duration of the works.
With heavy rainfall causing the pipe to collapse on Monday, the council is now carrying out emergency temporary repairs to the pipe so that it can continue to be operational. Once these temporary repairs are complete, the full replacement and upgrade of the pipeline will begin immediately.
The upgrade will include replacing the pipe with a larger 700mm diameter pipe with more capacity, as well as additional catchpits to collect more stormwater. This project is expected to be completed within four months, and we are working with both Auckland Transport and NZ Police to ensure access along College Hill is maintained throughout this construction period.
Currently, eastbound lanes towards the city centre are closed while one lane is open westbound towards Ponsonby. Travellers are recommended to use Franklin Road to avoid delays on College Hill.
The council has been carrying out ground radar surveying today to confirm there are no more cavities elsewhere along the road, with results showing the tomo is contained its current location. This means that once initial repairs are completed by the end of this week, single traffic lane in both directions should be established.
We thank those travelling in this area for their patience and understanding during this period of disruption.
Road closures:
- 1-way detour westbound (outbound maintained) on College Hill.
- Lane shift on College Road heading westbound.
- Diverge installed for access to Gudgeon Street
- Temporary diversion (detour) England Street - Ireland Street - Scotland Street
