Cost to build new road link in west Christchurch increases 41%
From reporter Tina Law:
The cost to build a new road link in Christchurch’s west has ballooned 41% to $25 million.
The Christchurch City Council is making changes to Halswell Junction Rd at Waterloo Rd, to provide a safer, more direct route for vehicles, especially large trucks accessing a nearby industrial area.
The cost to do the work has increased by $7.25m to $25m up from the $17.75m previously budgeted and there is a risk it could increase even further.
The work, being undertaken by Fulton Hogan, involves building a new road between Foremans Rd and Waterloo Rd, bypassing the existing section of Halswell Junction Rd, which will become a cul-de-sac.
A new rail crossing will be built at the end of the new link and the old crossing at Halswell Junction Rd by Waterloo Rd will be removed.
KiwiRail’s portion of the project has increased by $3.97m due to the rising cost of signal designs, and materials and construction.
The remaining $3.28m increase was due to escalating utility prices, and roading construction costs, the council said.
The project is completely funded by the council, with no subsidy from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The work was expected to start mid-June and was expected to take a total of about 14 to 18 months.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.