Hastings District Council works and services committee chairman Kevin Watkins said doing this section first would get the piece at the busiest end of the project out of the way before the Christmas period "which will benefit business owners in that area, road users and the contractors".
The second, longer stage, from the Southampton St intersection to the Gascoigne St intersection, will be started in January and is expected to be completed by May. The road will be closed to through traffic with access to businesses and residences maintained.
Mr Watkins said road restrictions were always difficult to deal with but given the size of the pipe and the heavy machinery required to install it, Council was left with no choice.
"We're constrained by the railway corridor on one side and homes and businesses on the other side. The very best thing we can do is work as efficiently as possible to get the project completed as fast as possible."
Business owners and residents along that stretch of Railway Rd have been contacted and will be kept updated on the project.
For road users, a detour will be in place taking traffic along Murdoch Rd, on to Southland Rd, to Eastbourne St. Updates will be provided through traditional, and social media.
