Quake-prone blocks to go

Two long-abandoned Wellington apartment blocks, in the path of a road that may or may not be built, are about to be demolished. The apartments – at 29 and 47 Wellington Rd, Kilbirnie – were bought by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to widen the road to Wellington Airport. But that project is tied up with Let’s Get Wellington Moving – a major rethink of the capital’s road and transport – and a business case for that will not be out until early 2021. NZTA said the two buildings had to be demolished because they were an earthquake risk. ‘‘Leaving the buildings as they are would put people and neighbouring properties at risk in the event of a major earthquake,’’ NZTA’s Emma Speight said. Demolition would begin early next month and would take three to four months.