The only Christchurch street still closed following the quakes will reopen later this year, only to close again next year to extend the route for tram lines.
High Street will reopen later this year only to close again next year so the council can extend the route for the tram. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
The proposal has raised the ire of fledgling businesses along High Street worried about the disruption the roadworks will cause them.
Developer Richard Peebles said the businesses wanted the work done now, before they opened their doors to the public.
"My concern is for the new tenants and the businesses that put their livelihoods and their investments in their businesses.
"The road works have a massive impact. The city is at exhaustion level in regards to roadworks and we just need to understand that whenever we close off a road these businesses are put at risk," Mr Peebles said.
Chris Meyer was due to open a cafe on the street this year and said he could not understand why the council could not get the tram lines in now when the road was being repaved, rather than waiting a year and tearing the pavement up again.
"Getting the street open and then shutting it again doesn't make the most sense to me. I would have preferred it was done while the street was closed now."
Business owner Nicholas Mann agreed, saying she would prefer minimal disturbance on the street front.
Central city ward councillor Deon Swiggs said he had taken up the matter with council staff to try to bring the project forward.
"It's not acceptable to have a business open and then all of a sudden it be shut again because there's limited access to those buildings. We've been told time and time again that we need to start co-ordinating the work."
The timing of the $5 million project is not set in stone - it still has to go through a committee and then pass a full council votes.
Mr Swiggs said that meant there was still time to get it changed.
In a statement, the chair of the committee in charge of signing off the work, Pauline Cotter, said she was keen to explore with staff bringing the project forward to limit disruption to the businesses.