Petition spurred by road works disruption

Petition spurred by road works disruption

Road works at the highway shops had hardly started before a petition was launched seeking a stop.

 Then councillor Rod Kofoed organised the petition to Kāpiti Coast District Council, which asked the council to “reach out to all affected businesses, communicate, apologise and compensate as necessary”. It also sought a stop to the works.

Rob says he was motivated by what he said was unnecessary disruption to businesses.

“I could see they were suffering,” he said. “There are cones everywhere, metal fencing is blocking the shop fronts of retailers, and there’s nowhere to park.

“It’s a mess, and businesses shouldn’t have to put up with it – times are tough enough as it is.”

The petition was signed by more than 50 business people. It came soon after a gas pipe was ruptured mid-afternoon on September 12 outside The Big Egg shop, causing the evacuation of several retail stores.

Parents wanting to pick up children from schools – especially at Waitohu – had to use the expressway to Peka Peka and return via the turning bay at Forest Lakes.

The works at the northern end are the first to venture into the shopping area itself. Much of the strip is still to be done. NZTA Waka Kotahi has contracted the work as part of revocation – preparing to hand over the road to Kāpiti Coast District Council.

The contractor has completed works south to the Big Egg. Small sections of footpath are not yet complete as Electra will do some upgrades before concrete works are finished.

Persistent rain in the second week of October has delayed kerb and channel work, with the work crew (as of press time, October 13) waiting for the next fine day. They will then shorten the length of the works site and focus on footpath.

While, all shops will still have pedestrian access to their doors, it’s unlikely to appease retailers enduring the disruption.

Meantime, the Mill Road crew has been working on the BP roundabout, levelling it off and laying pipes. Traffic along Old State Highway 1 has been funnelled into a lane each way to allow work on the western side of the roundabout. It will soon shift to the eastern side.

The change means Rāhui Road will be closed until near Christmas with detours. Works will then proceed with main pipe laying up to the Rāhui Road overbridge.

Farther south, at the intersection with Riverbank Road, there’s been resurfacing that’s caused traffic delays – sometimes of several minutes. NZTA Waka
Kotahi has acknowledged the inconvenience for motorists, and says it appreciates their patience.

All concrete work has been completed at the intersection with Old SH1, with the new traffic islands in place. As at press time crews were hoping to complete the last section of surface paving during the next night when the weather is fine. Line marking will follow before the traffic signals go live.

In the township, work crews in the Aotaki Street/Mill Road area have completed laying the pipeline from Aotaki Street to the roundabout. Traffic management is to flip soon to close the northern side of the roundabout and open the southern side. 

Works will continue along Aotaki Street to decommission the now redundant services and prepare for reinstating the road surface.