The bridge at Kerikeri's Stone Store was demolished five years ago. Next year the old bridge approach road will finally be removed as well. Photo/Peter de Graaf.
The long-delayed final stage of a project to remove traffic from one of New Zealand's most precious heritage sites is to get under way at last next year.
In 2008 the one-way bridge at Kerikeri Basin was removed and replaced with a $19million Heritage Bypass funded by the Ministry of
Arts and Culture.
In heavy rain the old bridge would trap debris and turn into a dam, threatening two of New Zealand's oldest buildings - Kemp House (1822) and the Stone Store (1836). It also created steady traffic passing metres from the Stone Store. A footbridge linking the Stone Store with a Department of Conservation reserve across the river was delayed for 18 months when the cost for a concrete design came in at $3million. A redesigned steel and timber footbridge was opened in late 2009 with overhead power lines put underground around the same time.
However, part of the old road remains, petering out in front of Kemp House and just before the river. It will finally be removed next year in a project funded by the DoC and the Far North District Council. Work will include landscaping, improving traffic flow, enlarging and sealing the car park below St James Church and building new public toilets.
Far North Mayor John Carter said work was originally due to get under way in May this year but was delayed while design elements were resolved and approved. The Kerikeri Basin Management Group also wanted the work done outside the peak visitor season. The job will now start on March 3 and take until Labour Weekend to complete.
