Plimmerton subway opening

The official opening of the new $300,000 subway at Plimmerton Railway Station will take place at 11am on Saturday 24 May.

Porirua City Mayor Jenny Brash will be joined by local residents, councillors from PCC and Greater Wellington Regional Council and representatives from Ngati Toa iwi, On Track and Toll NZ.

The opening will be celebrated with a number of activities run by Mana Archery Club; Mana Arts Society – including the sale of local art; the Green Bike’s Trust offering bike rides; and New Zealand’s largest steam engine open for viewing by Mainline Steam. The KA 942 engine was built in 1940 by the Hutt Workshop. These activities will run from 11am to 1pm on the day.

“The new subway will provide many advantages to the local and wider community,” says mayor Brash.

“It gives a safe link for pedestrians from Plimmerton Domain to Steyne Avenue; provides parking for people who want to shop in Plimmerton and for parents whose children attend Plimmerton School. This will greatly reduce vehicle congestion and free up short term parking in the village,” she says.

Peter Glensor, chair of Greater Wellington’s Transport and Access committee, said the new subway and bigger car park was great news for commuters. “The subway is a direct and sheltered link between the station and Domain commuter car park.

"And the car park is directly accessible from the State Highway, which makes it much more convenient for commuters. Greater Wellington is absolutely committed to making public transport easy and convenient.”

The subway will form part of the Ara Harakeke walkway/cycleway which will eventually run from Pukerua Bay to Porirua.