Kensington roadworks delay due to plant breakdown

Work to upgrade Nixon St (pictured) and a major Kensington intersection will wrap up in mid-January, not Christmas as planned.

The completion of work to upgrade a major Whangarei intersection has been delayed, after a plant breakdown at the asphalt supplier.

The upgrade of the intersection between Nixon St, Kamo Rd and Kensington Ave will now be finished in mid-January, not by Christmas as formerly reported by Whangarei District Council.

But WDC was assuring motorists the intersection would be fully open and more-or-less cone-free during the busy Christmas period, because the structural asphalt would be laid by then.

WDC project engineer Mark Seakins said there had been a delay with the council's asphalt supplier due to a plant breakdown. This had affected works in Northland, Auckland and Bay of Plenty.

Nonetheless, the entire area of the Kensington roadworks would have a usable layer of asphalt laid by Christmas, he said.

"This will allow us to remove all or most of the cones and barriers, and fully open the intersection up before Christmas," Mr Seakins said.

The final layer would then be installed over five nights from January 15.

Work to upgrade the intersection and four-lane the remainder of Nixon St had been ongoing throughout the year, meaning disruption for residents, commuters and nearby businesses.

It coincided with major work throughout 2016 at the other end of Kensington Ave, where the New Zealand Transport Agency was installing a roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 1 (Western Hills Dr).

This roundabout is set to be finished by Christmas as planned.