Marine Parade to be halved for traffic

LESS IS MORE: Opposing traffic on the coastal side of Marine Parade is being temporarily trialled. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Half of Marine Parade's road will be dedicated to parking next year as Napier City Council tries to remove trucks from the waterfront popular with tourists.

However, Napier mayor Bill Dalton said it was not a permanent move.

"It is something we are going to set up with temporary barriers, so if it doesn't work we can easily take it out," he said.

Council chief executive Wayne Jack said the main traffic issue in Napier was trucks taking the Marine Pde route to Napier Port through an area popular with tourists.

"From about April next year what we are going to do is push traffic down one side of Marine Pde," he said.

Traffic travelling in opposite directions will be on the two lanes on the coastal side of Marine Pde. The other side will be used for angle parking.

"We have some traffic calming measures which will make it a little bit uncomfortable for trucks to go down through," Mr Jack said.

"It is a test to see what pressures it places on the networks, but we have had lots of discussions with major transport providers to get them going down alternative roads."

The Marine Pde changes would slow traffic "and make it uncomfortable for trucks to go down and push them down Georges Drive".

Mon Logis Bed and Breakfast owner Gerard Averous said any move to lessen truck traffic from Marine Pde was "marvellous".

He said when Awatoto fertiliser company Ravensdown was unloading a ship, "we put up with non-stop trucks for up to five days, from 6am to 10pm".

Mr Jack revealed the Marine Pde plan at a business breakfast yesterday morning, after Napier Port chief executive Garth Cowie was asked if the Port had plans to mitigate truck flows through the CBD.

Mr Cowie said there was a regional traffic plan under way as shown by Monday's start of the Whakatu Arterial Link, a $20.2 million project to improve access to the industrial suburb of Whakatu.

The link extends between Pakowhai Rd and State Highway 2 to the northeast of Hastings township, helping to draw traffic away from Marine Pde.

In July, a $25m spend on three roading projects was announced as one of the first actions of Matariki - the Hawke's Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said improved access to Napier Port was a key contributor to economic growth.

Improvements will be made to intersections at Watchman Rd near Hawke's Bay Airport, Hyderabad Rd/Prebensen Drive and SH50/SH2 Expressway.

Mr Cowie said as log volumes doubled in the coming years, along with a growth in containerised traffic, traffic would remain an issue.

"It is going to put strain on the transport network and that is why we are talking with the different agencies and councils now, on what it is going to look like in 10 years' time or longer."