What's happening?
We’re upgrading underground infrastructure (pipes) in the area around Clive and Memorial Squares. This includes:
- Wastewater pipe upgrades
- Stormwater upgrades including stormwater treatment and new manholes
- Kerb and channel upgrades
- Safer intersections and crossings
- Footpath upgrades
Digging up the street gives us an opportunity to build back better. Renewing what's above ground will save on long term maintenance costs. We'll upgrade 'The Zip', which is the part of Emerson Street that runs between the Squares. We'll keep this area’s familiar character and style, with these improvements:
- Better connections to the surrounding area
- Improved lighting for safety and atmosphere
- Fresh paving and street furniture
- More greenery and places to sit
Why is it happening?
Emerson Street is the heart of our city, but beneath its surface, ageing pipes need attention. We need to look after Emerson and make sure it’s got what it needs to continue being the centre of the action.
By taking the opportunity to upgrade The Zip we'll make this part of Emerson safer, more resilient, accessible and welcoming. Modernising the streetscape will make maintenance cheaper and easier.
This area will become a versatile, more attractive space that will be a vibrant entranceway to our main shopping precinct, strengthening our local economy. The new layout will bring people together for events, gatherings, shopping and relaxation.
What about the rest of Emerson?
The pipes along the rest of Emerson need upgrading too. So at the same time, we're developing a multi-stage plan to get future designs for the whole Street to a ‘shovel-ready’ position. This means we’ll be ready to go if Council decides to include further pipe remediation work on Emerson in its Long Term Plan.
Check out the future!
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Map of works for each stage
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Questions and answers
Work will take 11 months, therefore it is not possible to complete it while avoiding the main tourist season. By starting in January, we will be able to complete the work before the Christmas/New Year holiday period in 2026/27.
All works will be paused during Art Deco Weekend. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the festival without construction works getting in the way. Roads will be reinstated and fences and traffic management will be removed. There will be full access in and around the area.
Affected events will have temporary homes during our work in this area. The Napier Night Fiesta remains in Memorial Square. The new venues for any other affected events will be extensively communicated. Major events, such as the Christmas Parade, are not affected by the project.
Emerson Street’s water infrastructure (pipes) needs to be upgraded. For example, the wastewater pipes are made of clay and are over 90 years old. Modernising the infrastructure will make it easier and cheaper to be maintained. The infrastructure works are essential, but they give us a great opportunity to rethink this part of Emerson Street so it’s safer, more accessible and easier to use.
Yes, there will be pedestrian access to all shops and properties throughout the works.
We will do our best to ensure as many spaces as possible are available, but some parking will be lost during construction. This is to provide enough room for a safe workspace as well as space for cars and pedestrians to move safely around the worksite.
During Stage 1 (January-February), it is likely there won’t be any parking on Clive Square East (Dickens Street end).
There will be differentiation between areas for traffic and pedestrians, in both paving pattern and colour. We’re using a range of paver colours in the streetscape to also reduce glare.
There will always be access to the CBD. While some streets may be closed to through traffic or reduced to one way during construction, we will minimise disruption as much as we can. Alternative travel routes will be in place and clearly communicated.
The Intercity bus hub will move from Clive Square West to Station Street (opposite Burger King and the Z station) for the duration of the works.
Some of the works will involve trenching (digging a long, narrow hole with diggers), which will generate noise during the day. However, not all works will create loud noise. Noise levels will change depending on the activities being carried out. There may be some work on Saturdays as needed.
Ask us a question using the comment form on this website or contact Napier City Council on 06 835 7579.
