Welcome re-opening after route closure

Nixon St will re-open on June 22 as roadworks go on hold over winter. Photo / Michael Cunnningham

Since roadworks closed Whangarei's Nixon St in February one nearby resident has seen congestion grow and crashes occur, so she's looking forward to the road opening again.

The street has been closed in a project to widen the road to four lanes and improve its intersections with Mill Rd and Kamo Rd.

On June 22 it will re-open and the current detours along Kamo Rd, Mill Rd, Parahaki St, Mair St and Hatea Drive will be removed.

Sandra Field lives in Hatea Drive and works in Kamo Rd. She could not wait for roadworks to go on hold for winter.

"I'm looking forward to being able to take my usual route again," she said.

Ms Field, who usually travels along Nixon St to get to work, has been travelling along Deveron St and Mill Rd since the roadworks started.

"It definitely takes longer. At least double the time," she said.

Whangarei District Council project manager Mark Seakins said work to prepare the site for the road widening and the upgrades at the Mill Rd and Nixon St intersection was almost complete.

"We have upgraded the drainage system and are undergrounding the power and telephone wires. The next stage of the construction is to construct the road pavements. It is important that this pavement work is done in the right weather [temperature and dryness] so it is programmed for spring."

Mr Seakins said when Nixon St closed again in September the current detours would be reintroduced.

Ms Field said despite the congestion caused by the roadworks, having four lanes along Nixon St would be worth the disruption.