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After more than four years of trials, tests and community feedback, Kaipara District Council (KDC) has unveiled its final design to make Mangawhai’s Wood Street safer and less congested.
The revitalisation project has been in development since September 2019, when KDC was approached by the Mangawhai Business Association with concerns over traffic congestion and pedestrian safety in and around Wood Street.
Since then, numerous community workshops, trials, surveys and data monitoring have been carried out, as new layouts and designs have been put in place. The biggest changes have been making Wood Street one-way, changes to parking and the introduction of traffic calming measures, such as raised pedestrian crossing points and road-narrowing.
The trial process has not been without its critics, with locals voicing complaints throughout on issues such as traffic jams and the safety of pedestrian crossing areas.
The final design includes wider footpaths, including timber boardwalks along a central section of Wood Street; shrub and tree planting; raised pedestrian crossings; and a mix of angled and parallel parking to optimise the number of carparks while still allowing larger delivery vehicles and disabled access.
The project was made possible initially due to Waka Kotahi, which awarded KDC $455,000 from its Innovating Streets for People programme in 2020 for the interim design. Through the KDC 2021/2031 long term plan, around $4million was later approved for the construction of the permanent upgrade, and which is subject to Waka Kotahi approval to fund 62 per cent of the cost.
Although the design is now finalised, the necessary work is not due to start until the latter half of next year, after the project was delayed to coincide with stormwater upgrades along the same route.
While the design for Wood Street is complete, KDC is still working to finalise a new layout for the surrounding area around Fagan Place. This includes the former fire station site, two carparking areas, and a public playground.
Council is seeking feedback from locals on this aspect of the design and will be holding a mapping workshop on Sunday, December 10 between 3pm and 5pm at the Mangawhai Senior Citizens Hall in Fagan Place.
