The NZ Transport Agency is planning a community day on Sunday, 4 September, to celebrate the completion of stage 2 of the Kamo by-pass on State Highway 1 in Whangarei.
People will have the chance to walk and cycle the 1.3 kilometre-long section of new highway before it opens later to traffic.
The NZTA’s Regional Director for Auckland and Northland, Stephen Town, says the NZTA will not know until next week when the by-pass will open to traffic because there is still weather dependent work required to complete the project to make it safe for drivers.
“The open day is our way of saying thank you to local people for their support during the construction of the by-pass,” Mr Town says. “It’s never easy constructing a project like this in the middle of a city, but the great support we’ve had from drivers and those people living near the project site has played a significant part in being able to finish our work here three months ahead of schedule.
“People have been very patient with us, and now the project team would like to say “thanks” and show them what has been going on before we open the highway to traffic,” Mr Town says.
The community day will follow a dawn blessing with local iwi earlier on Sunday and an official opening and ribbon cutting lead by the Whangarei MP, Hon Phil Heatley MP. There will also be an associated ribbon cutting celebration for the Spedding Road link with Whangarei District Council.
Walkers will be allowed onto the by-pass first at 9.30. Although the project includes a dedicated cycleway, cyclists will have the chance to ride on the highway proper from 11.45am.
The by-pass, which cost $25m including property acquisitions, will help provide safer travel, ease congestion on local roads, and improve transport connections in the city and the wider Northland region.
Date:
Sunday 4 September 2011
Time:
Pedestrians 9.30-11.30am
Cyclists 11.45-12.15pm
Location:
Entrance is off Spedding Road at the end of Jack Street in Otangarei.
