Liaison group fights on for Hill Street upgrade

The Warkworth Area Community Liaison Group wants the NZ Transport Agency to prioritise Hill Street intersection improvements, ahead of any work scheduled at Hudson or McKinney Roads.

At its meeting this month, the main topic of discussion was NZTA’s recent announcement that work on the intersection will not happen this financial year.

Some participants felt that while the delay was unfortunate, it may be in the town’s best interests to accept it until the route of the new Puhoi-to-Wellsford highway was known.

“The new highway route, and particularly where the off-ramps are located, could have an impact on what is eventually done at Hill Street,” she said.

Others felt the bypass should be a higher priority than Hill Street.

However, group co-convenor Bruce Manson said the highway was a long-term project, which would not lessen the importance of the Hill Street works proceeding.

In a submission to the Rodney Draft Local Board Plan, which closed on August 8, the group called for the completion of the roading improvements in Warkworth as per the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NZTA.

The submission said that the planned upgrade of the intersection should start during the 2011/12 summer, but definitely no later than the spring 2012 construction season.

The group also sought confirmation from the Governing Body that it remained committed to the MOU and asked that Auckland Transport liaise with NZTA for its implementation as a matter of urgency.

Emergency services personnel at the meeting – St John Ambulance chairman Alan Boniface and Warkworth chief fire officer Ian Davies – both confirmed their concern at any further delays in the work.

Mr Boniface said heavy traffic during peak holiday times often cost ambulances vital minutes. Last year, the Warkworth ambulance service attended just under 2000 callouts.

Mr Davies said “a big red truck with flashing lights” tended to get right-of-way, but it was the delays volunteer firemen had getting through Hill Street to respond to the callouts that was of most concern. Last year, the service responded to 325 callouts.

Published August 17, 2011