Continued work on Te Mata Rd has caused frustration for motorists. Photo / Duncan Brown
Continued work on Te Mata Rd has caused frustration for motorists. Photo / Duncan Brown
Drivers and residents alike are up in arms regarding the ongoing roadworks on Te Mata Rd, with taxi fares increasing due to the time it is taking to get to each destination.
A taxi driver, who wished to be known only as Andrew, said it had "passed a joke".
He questioned what was being done and who was paying for it, noting that a fare that should have cost about $12 cost $20 - something which the customers weren't too happy about but had to accept.
"Why did they dig it up, fix it and dig it up again - that is what everyone is wondering," he said.
The taxi driver noted that on "several occasions" late at night or early in the morning, he had seen youths kick over the cones dotted on the street, with police having to come by later and pick them up to prevent drivers from swerving around them.
Hastings Taxis head director Kamal Bhandal said it hadn't received any complaints from customers or drivers regarding the issue.
"It is just what it is and there is nothing you can do about it."
"It is difficult sometimes when you can't go through some roads and you have to go around the block to get to the address and, of course, it is going to cost more to the customers but maybe they are aware of it," Mr Bhandal said.
He believed it would be "ideal if they could work on the road during off-peak times or not during business times when not many people are using the roads" but didn't know if that was more costly.
The work on this road has come under scrutiny after it was announced that the scheduled January finishing date was to be extended until mid-April due to delays to infrastructure work along Te Mata Rd.
The work to install a new water main on Te Mata and St Hill's Roads was put on hold during the Christmas/New Year break, but resumed last month.
