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Queen Street Infrastructure Upgrade

Rebuilding a street to improve accessibility, safety, and functionality

  • 4800

    Metres of Water Pipes

  • >300

    Risks Managed

  • 1-100

    1-in-100-yr Flood Protection

  • Richmond, New Zealand

    Richmond, New Zealand

Providing flood protection for local businesses

Richmond’s town centre is a key commercial hub so when severe flooding hit, upgrading the main street’s stormwater infrastructure became a priority.

Our experts’ innovative design lowered Queen Street’s crown, creating a continuous central slot drain to direct water away from buildings and overcome safety issues. It also meant a complete overhaul for the street: an improvement to streetscape character and amenity, an opportunity to upgrade the associated infrastructure, enable futureproofing, and improve its useability, safety and functionality.

To minimise disruption, we created a moving 100–150 metre ‘construction box’ allowing the contractor access to the street while project and historical information, surfaces for children to decorate, and viewing windows adorned its hoardings.

Safety was a critical outcome, particularly with an ageing population, so we talked to disability, elderly and blind groups, and schools and emergency services. The result? Wider footpaths, a buffer strip between cars and people, slower traffic speeds, enhanced planting with ornate pear and titoki trees and power outlets to charge mobility scooters.

Queen Street is now safe, pedestrian friendly, modern and vibrant. And most importantly, it’s resilient.

At a Glance

Offices
Client
  • Tasman District Council
Partners
  • Downer
Award
Best Street in New Zealand, Keep NZ Beautiful Awards, 2018
Meet Our Team

Kirstie Thorpe, Senior Principal Landscape Architect & Urban Design/Team Lead, Landscape & Urban Design

I weave threads of landscape together and incorporate their values into infrastructure projects.
Kirstie Thorpe Senior Principal Landscape Architect & Urban Design/Team Lead, Landscape & Urban Design Read More

Kirstie Thorpe

Senior Principal Landscape Architect & Urban Design/Team Lead, Landscape & Urban Design

We’re better together

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