Steep challenge
In what could be Wellington’s biggest controversy since the Wellywood sign, a list of the capital’s steepest streets can be revealed.
With a steady 16 degree angle, Fore St – which becomes Winchester St, Kaiwharawhara – is officially Wellington’s steepest street.
Stephanie Ko, who lives at the very top, knows it well. Just walking up is the equivalent of climbing 16 flights of stairs – or so her phone tells her.
But with the steepness comes benefits – her daily walk up the hill is not only good exercise but it also raises her from virtual sea level to panoramic harbour views – like an elevator.
Wellington City Council has compiled a list of the city’s steepest 21 streets though points out the list is far from exhaustive. The measurements were taken from the centre line of the road for at least 20 metres.
Fore and Winchester streets – essentially a single road – rise 1 metre for every 3.5m across.
To put that in perspective, Dunedin’s Baldwin St, which recently lost the crown of the world’s steepest street, has an average gradient of 1m up for every 3.41m across.
But while Baldwin St is celebrated and tourists flock there, Wellington City Council warned against similar actions in Wellington.
‘‘We warn motorists to resist the temptation to drive up Fore St,’’ spokesman Richard MacLean said.
‘‘It’s not for the faint-hearted or for anyone with a dodgy vehicle. It’s pretty much first gear going up. It’s also narrow and there’s no turning circle at the top.’’
These days the maximum street steepness allowed on a new public road in Wellington is 1m up for every 8m across, although private streets and driveways can be steeper. Busier roads and bus routes are limited at one to 15.
There is also a minimum gradient of one in 200 for roads so rain can run off.