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The new northern motorway extension will bypass Wellsford and Te Hana, reducing the heavy traffic through the towns by as much as 90%.
Many of the residents Mahurangi Matters spoke to at the Wellsford public information day in February supported the motorway and complained about the traffic, heavy trucks and safety on State Highway 1.
But what will happen to businesses in Wellsford that depend on the trucks stopping and all the current through traffic? Business owners gave us a mixed response.
The figures
About 90% of through traffic, approximately 1400 heavy vehicles and 14,000 total vehicles a day, will be removed from the main street of Wellsford by 2026.
The new 24km motorway will save seven minutes for general traffic and 10 minutes for freight.
It is predicted to save 19 deaths and serious injuries every five years.
Motorway interchanges
The indicative route travels west of Warkworth and east of both Wellsford and Te Hana, connecting back to State Highway 1 north of Mangawhai Road.
There will be a Wellsford interchange at Wayby Valley Road, providing access to Wellsford and from the town heading south. The Te Hana interchange at Mangawhai Road will provide access to Te Hana and Wellsford, and to Mangawhai heading east.
Next steps
You can send feedback on the indicative route by Friday March 31 at nzta.govt.nz/warkworth-wellsford. An indicative alignment will be identified later this year and then taken forward for consenting under the Resource Management Act. NZTA says there will be further targeted consultation, and public engagement will occur before lodging a Notice of Requirement to designate the land and associated consent applications.
Boost for Dome Valley landmark
Sheepworld business owner John Collyer says the tourist attraction will “benefit hugely” from the new motorways. The Puhoi to Warkworth leg already underway, with an interchange before Dome Valley, will bring more customers and tourist buses from Auckland to his doorstep on State Highway 1.
When the motorway continues north, to the west of Dome Forest, it will also be in his favour. John says there will be less traffic and it will be easier to stop. Those on a mission to get further north will take the motorway, and would probably not have stopped anyway.
“We are very positive. It will only increase the value of the property and business,” John says.
A triple whammy
Frog Pool Farm Interiors owner Susan Speedy’s three retail stores – her long-standing business in Dome Valley, a recent store in Wellsford and new shop in Warkworth – will all be impacted. Susan says the Dome Valley business “might be finished”, but property prices will probably increase, and the Warkworth store has a more local base. The majority of Wellsford business was from passing traffic, which will end.
“What can you do? March down the main street and say ‘save my shop’?” she says.
Susan says Wellsford needs to be beautified with native trees, gardens and ponds to encourage visitors to stop in the town. The town could also make the most of the property boom and make sure it attracts services like big supermarkets to keep new residents coming back, she says.
Keeping it local
Shop assistant Debra Walters has worked at The Meat Company for six years and says their main customers are local and loyal. They won’t see benefits of lack of reduced traffic either, as they have parking at the back of the shop for their customers already.
“It won’t affect us too much as we don’t get a lot of trade from passing traffic. Most of our customers come to us directly,” she says.
You can’t stop progress
Te Hana Café manager Rose Kiddie says the business is a popular stop for passing traffic, especially trucks. But she thinks the cafe could still remain a popular and easy place for truckies to stop and turn around, as it is not far from the proposed interchange.
“You can’t stop progress, the city is coming to the country,” she says.
Focus on the positives
Woodys Winners has loyal and local visitors, owner Karen Lennon says, but they also have a lot of regular truckies and passersby. She says everyone in Wellsford needs to start working together to make it a destination town. Karen was part of Wellsford Promotions when it looked at the probability of the motorway and its impact a few years ago. She says members were working on highlighting the town’s heritage and services, like the Wellsford Library and the electric car charger.
“If you focus on the negatives, that’s what it will become. We have to focus on the positives and pay attention now to make Wellsford a destination,” Karen says.
