Auckland Council’s upgrade of Takapuna’s main street is in its final stage of construction and contractors will be working hard to make up for the five weeks of lost time resulting from Alert Level 4 restrictions.
To assist contractors, Hurstmere Road between Lake Road and Anzac Street will be closed to vehicles from 6am, Wednesday September 22, for the duration of Alert Level 3. Pedestrian access along Hurstmere Road and to businesses will remain open for click and collect and essential services.
Welcoming the news, North Shore Councillor Richard Hills said it will be a relief for local businesses to see construction back underway.
“Completely closing Hurstmere Road to vehicles and extending work hours, will give contractors the chance to get work done faster, in a safer, less congested work site. After five weeks of Level 4 this action is crucial to help catch up on lost time and will bring us closer to our goal of having the street open and fully upgraded in time for Christmas,” says Councillor Hills.
“It has been well over 30 years since the road, utilities and water infrastructure was upgraded, it is a significant investment in our community, and we are on the home stretch. In the meantime, please support local, order food and items from businesses who are operating contactless; Takapuna businesses need our support after another tough COVID-19 outbreak."
A detour will be in place at the Lake Road end of Hurstmere Road, and vehicles can use nearby carparking options at The Strand, Anzac Street, and the new carparking building, Toka Puia.
While Alert Level 3 restrictions are in place project teams will work extended hours and on Sundays to progress the final stages of construction, which include the completion of the new cycleway, remaining rain gardens, garden beds, water main upgrade, and installation of energy-efficient lighting.
In the upgrade’s completed sections, Hurstmere Road now boasts wider high-quality pavements, new timber seating and stonework walls, offering more space for pedestrians, outdoor dining and events.
The street has also become greener with plantings of Puriri and Tī kōuka trees in five new garden beds and in two of the street’s new rain gardens, which are now actively cleaning water run-off from Hurstmere Road before it drains to Takapuna Beach.
The project’s contractor, John Fillmore Contracting Limited (JFC Ltd.), is working to complete the entire project in late 2021, before the busy Christmas period.
The site teams will be following strict health, safety and physical distancing guidelines to ensure the safety of those on site and the community.
