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By Cathy Aronson
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is reviewing the proposed northern motorway extension interchange at Kaipara Flats Road after feedback from property owners.
The indicative route for the Warkworth to Te Hana leg of the motorway released in February proposes two interchanges separated by State Highway 1. Traffic to and from the north would use Kaipara Flats Road, and traffic to and from the south would use the interchange near Woodcocks as part the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway, already under construction by NX2.
NZTA manager Brett Gliddon says the current design includes a separated off-ramp for the heaviest traffic flows from the south into Warkworth. It also future-proofs the design to accommodate the anticipated future growth in the area.
“Lower volumes of traffic are expected to travel north from Warkworth, and therefore north-facing ramps are proposed to be accessed via an upgraded Kaipara Flats Road.”
However, as a result of feedback received from local property owners and public consultation in February, he says the NZTA design team is currently looking again at the proposed interchange location and function at Kaipara Flats Road.
Local resident Maurice Purdy organised meetings with neighbouring landowners. He and his wife understand the need for the motorway, but question the ‘stupidity of the design’ of a split interchange. He says it should be in one valley to stop confusion and reduce costs.
“We were flabbergasted,” he says. “People will look at it in 20 years’ time and say, from an engineering and design perspective, ‘what were they thinking?’. I’m not saying change it for the sake of a few properties, but just for the practicality and cost.”
Maurice talked to NZTA staff at the open day in February and was told height and speed restrictions were the limitations for one big interchange, like Orewa and Silverdale.
Maurice and his wife Karen moved to their 3-acre lifestyle block five years ago after selling their family home and 100-year-old villa near Eden Park.
Karen says they were ‘stunned’ and ‘felt sick’ when they received a notification letter and map showing the widened Kaipara Flats Road going through their house and property.
She had just settled in after a year of missing her old life in Auckland, and was part of the community, meeting new friends and joining the Kaipara Flats Sports Club.
“I understand and appreciate we need to improve the roads, but I also don’t want to brushed aside like my life doesn’t matter,” Karen says.
She was worried at the prospect of moving and starting again, with limited options for lifestyle blocks nearby.
NZTA is due to present the outcomes of feedback and analysis back to the community mid-year. It is part of a ‘route protection phase’, to protect the land required, via designation and consents, for future construction of the motorway.
NZTA says the final form and function of the road alignment, including interchange design, within the designation boundaries will not be confirmed for some time. It is also investigating the possibility of adding a third southern interchange at Valerie Close.
Info: nzta.govt.nz/projects/warkworth-wellsford
