Northland bridge consultation starts
The wheels seem to be set in motion for an upgrade of two of the 10 Northland bridges promised by the Government.
Community meetings were held in Kaeo and Taipa by the New Zealand Transport Agency recently to update the community, give them the opportunity to talk to the project teams, and for any issues to be raised on proposed changes.
Kaeo resident and Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board member Bruce Mills says the meeting at Kaeo allowed for great discussion.
He says the proposed project will be a wide, 150m long, two-lane design that will have a new location to the old bridge. It will be closer to the township and make the approach smoother than the current Kaeo River crossing.
‘‘There’s been lots of stand-offs [at the bridge] and some people don’t stop. It’s a national issue, there’s more and more traffic heading up the east coast.’’
Bridges in Northland have been a contentious issue since the 2015 by-election with National’s pledge to spend $69 million to replace 10 one-lane bridges.
Just four of the 10 proposed bridges made the cut for the Land Transport programme announced in 2015 after the by-election. Along with Kaeo and Taipa, two bridges at Matakohe are set to be funded.
No dates for construction or how much the bridges will cost could be given by NZTA.
Northland MP Winston Peters says no progress has been made on the upgrades since they were promised in early 2015.
‘‘Presumably when National made these promises they consulted with NZTA to confirm that it was possible or that they were going to do them.
‘‘What input will they [the community] have? And what about consultation for the other eight bridges? I think people are getting the feeling they are being treated like fools.’’
Mills says the narrow bridge with raised footpaths at the southern entrance to the Kaeo township is of higher concern.
He says it is not wide enough for wheelchairs to cross and children have fallen off onto State Highway 10.
‘‘I have been fighting for something to be done about that bridge since 2003. It’s a big meeting place for the town but it is exceptionally dangerous.’’
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