Four Laning Contract Awarded

Rodney District Council has voted to award a Whangaparaoa Road Four Laning contract to Works Infrastructure Ltd.

Roading Manager Barry George said the contract would address the congestion experienced by motorists and would widen Whangaparaoa Road between Red Beach and Vipond Roads to 2 lanes in each direction.

“The North Harbour branch of Works Infrastructure will commence work in October and we anticipate completion mid-2005.”

“I’d like to acknowledge the Councillors and all those in the Whangaparaoa community who have contributed so much to ensure community concerns about congestion and safety were addressed in the development of the project’s design.”

Works Infrastructure Ltd North Harbour Branch Manager Tristan Lees-Baker said Works Infrastructure was delighted with the decision and was looking forward to starting.

“This is a significant tender for Works and a very important initiative in the local roading network. We look forward to successful completion and relief of the congestion motorists have been experiencing.”

The proposed design for the four laning includes:

four traffic lanes made up of two 3.5m outside lanes and two 3.0m inside lanes a 2.5m flush median a 2.0m wide shared footpath/cycleway on the northern side and a standard footpath on the southern side. a 3.5m berm on the northern side and a 2.5m berm on the southern side a number of retaining walls throughout the project length alterations to the existing signalised intersections at Whangaparaoa and Red Beach and Vipond Roads

Works Infrastructure tendered $10.73m for the construction works. The Council also confirmed an increase in the District Council’s local share of the project funding by $1.25m to $5.45m. Mr George said this was in response to Council’s earlier request that power lines be placed underground at the same time as four-laning. While the funding of the project has been spread over two financial years the actual works will be completed during the 2004/05 year. The overall funding of $13m includes design, consenting and ancillary costs.

Transfund NZ chairperson Dr Jan Wright announced earlier this week that the Transfund Board had approved the balance of $7.6m in funding for this four laning project.

“We recognise congestion is a major issue for Whangaparaoa Peninsula and for Rodney District. Whangaparaoa Road is currently the only road allowing access to and from the peninsula. It has a traffic flow of about 28,000 vehicles each day.” “The proposed Penlink connection would also relieve congestion in this area but the problem needs addressing now. Funding of this project is, the Board believes, a prudent decision as this work is scheduled to be completed within the next 12 months,” Dr Wright said.

The funding is subject to completion of property purchases and to the Rodney District Council agreeing to develop a public transport plan for the Hibiscus Coast, encompassing future plans for travel demand measures such as bus lanes and high occupancy vehicle lanes.

Mr George said both conditions would be met.

“Property purchases have been completed and we are developing a public transport plan for the Hibiscus Coast as part of the Rodney Transport Strategy that is in development.”

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