DATE: |
23
June 2008 |
TITLE: |
New Era
Launched in Kerikeri's Roading History |
A new era in the history
of Kerikeri and the Far North was launched today with the opening of
the Kerikeri Heritage Bypass to traffic.
The 1.6 kilometre new road bypassing the Stone Store Basin historic
precinct, the first stage of the $17 million project, has been completed
on schedule and within budget.
Traffic was diverted to the bypass route at 1 a.m. and simultaneously
the bridge at the Stone Store was closed off to through traffic, ending
a 93-year chapter in the town's roading history.
Around 750 people took the opportunity yesterday to walk over the new
bypass as a prelude to the opening of the route to traffic, following
an early morning ceremony in which two carved poupou prepared by Ngati
Rehia were unveiled and the new 82-metre bypass bridge was traditionally
blessed.
The last vehicle to use the single-lane concrete bridge in the Stone
Store Basin was a 1913-14 Model T Ford made available by Pete's Pioneer
& Transport Museum at Kerikeri. The Model T symbolically completed
a full circle in the history of the bridge – it was also a model
T Ford which made the first crossing of the original wooden bridge in
the basin in 1915.
The change-over was completed without protest action despite earlier
threats of direct action to prevent the removal of the old bridge. Flowers
were tied to the handrails of the old bridge over the weekend as members
of the public marked the passing of an era.
However the mood was generally buoyant throughout the weekend as the
public looked with anticipation towards the opening of the new bypass
route first mooted more than 25 years earlier.
Work will start immediately on the demolition of the old bridge. The
bridge will be stripped of its handrails and service ducts before concrete
cutters move in later today to begin taking the first section of the
decking apart.
Construction first started in November 2006 and the project is expected
to be fully completed later this year. The final stages will include
the construction of a 56-metre new pedestrian bridge across the Kerikeri
River about 70 metres upstream from the old road bridge, the removal
of the old bridge and the construction of permanent traffic cul-de-sacs
to provide for traffic to turn around on each side of the river within
the Stone Store Basin.
The project is expected to be fully completed before Christmas 2008
For further information please contact:-
Rick
McCall
Communications Officer
Far North District Council
0800 920 029
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Page created/updated: 23 June, 2008
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