Ashhurst roading upgrade nearly done
Work to make it safer and easier to get around Ashhurst following the closure of State Highway 3 through the Manawatu¯ Gorge is almost complete.
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and the Palmerston North City Council have been working with the town’s residents so it can cope with the increase in traffic funnelling to and from the Saddle Rd, now the major east-west road across the Ruahine Range.
Transport agency systems manager Ross I’anson said the project was 90 per cent complete and people would notice work crews packing up in the next few weeks.
Work on the remaining two projects, widening Wyndham St, between Oxford St and Cambridge Ave, and a footpath connection near the intersection of Lincoln and Bamfield streets, will start after the Christmas break in January.
Work will start on the SH3Cambridge Ave intersection in the new year.
‘‘We have listened to the local community and added the Wyndham St work after being approached by several residents concerned with the width of the road and the [number] of trucks using it on a daily basis,’’ I’anson said.
‘‘The additional width will give vehicles more space to travel along the road, as well as reducing damage to the seal edge and grass berms.’’
The work includes new raised islands, planting and kerb works to create a slow zone around community facilities, shops and Ashhurst School, new footpaths and pedestrian facilities, and changes to intersections to improve traffic flow. The footpath connection will be completed by the end of February, with all remaining work to be complete in March, depending on weather.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said the council was also working on more improvements.
‘‘This year we’ve completed footpath upgrades and extensions on Oxford, Stanford South and Wyndham streets, and once Waka Kotahi has completed its work on Wyndham St, we will complete our remaining work.
‘‘We’re also working on roading programmes to include in our 10-year plan, which will be considered and consulted on next year, including upgrades to some Ashhurst roads.’’