Flood repairs may cause traffic delays

Motorists are being warned there could be temporary delays when construction work starts on repairs to a major Bay of Islands arterial roading link on 07 January 2008.


The work to repair a dangerous under-slip in Franklin Street at Opua is one of a number of major repair projects still to be completed as a result of the severe weather and flooding in the Far North in March.


Franklin Street is the only vehicle access to the Opua-Okiato ferry service and a strategic link to the Russell Peninsula.


The work will be carried out by McBreen Jenkins Ltd in conjunction with GHK Piling Ltd at an anticipated cost of about $250,000.


General Manager for Roads and Stormwater Richard Green said today the council had little option but to proceed as quickly as possible with the work, in spite of anticipated heavy traffic volumes on the ferry access route at the peak of the summer season.


"We apologise for any inconvenience which may be caused. But the longer we leave the work, the greater the potential for further heavy rain events to intensify the damage to a point at which the road might have to be closed. The sooner we can get on with it, the sooner we can minimize that risk," he said.


The ferry company had been advised of the work and the reasons for treating the project as a matter of urgency.


"The street is expected to be reduced to one-lane traffic for periods during the four-weeks of construction work. A traffic management plan is in place to reduce the impact for the traveling public and we have given the ferry operators an assurance we will work with them to ensure all practical steps possible are taken to avoid disruptions to the ferry service.


"With the best will in the world, it will not be possible to avoid brief periods when traffic may be delayed," he said. Mr Green said the council had not been able to carry out the work sooner.


"We tried to get the work done in an earlier time slot, before the summer holiday peak, but had to wait for confirmation that funding subsidies were available before a contract could be let," he said.