Council will rehabilitate another section of Fairfield Road and upgrade the Oak Grove roundabout after receiving additional funding from NZ Transport Agency.

Infrastructure Group Manager Neil McCann said the national transport agency had increased the budget for its subsidised work programme in the Ashburton District by $2.5 million this financial year.

This will mean that Council can claim a subsidy for the $1m of reseals and $0.5m of unsealed maintenance metalling budgeted as unsubsidised. It also allows the proposed additional sealed road rehabilitation to be completed.

“Council’s share of that extra work is $1.225m, and we can meet that from our existing unsubsidised roading budget. We were advised of the extra funding just before Christmas, so now we’re able to make more improvements to our roading network.”

The roundabout at the corner of Oak Grove, Walnut Avenue and Belt Road has been on Council’s radar for reconstruction for some time and the project will be added to the operations and maintenance programme, to be done before the end of June this year.

Mr McCann said a section of Fairfield Road was already included in a separate road rehabilitation contract awarded to Fulton Hogan, and the extra funds from NZTA meant that section could be extended.

“We’re really pleased that NZTA recognises the need for work on our network and we have the resources to get the work done within the next few months.”

Fulton Hogan and ACL have started rehabilitation on two sections of Thompsons Track and that work is due to be completed by the end of March.

The contractor will soon start rehabilitation work on sections of Fairfield Road (between Company Road and Singletree Road).