Work to begin on Kerikeri Rd bottleneck

A diagram of the work planned for Kerikeri Rd. Image / FNDC

Work is to begin on widening Kerikeri Rd to ease traffic flow and safety along the Far North's busiest district road.

The work by Far North District Council, and 60 per cent funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency, will widen Kerikeri Rd at the Access Rd intersection and extend a right-hand turning bay.

A safety island will be installed to prevent overtaking on that bay. The aim is to relieve pressure on the intersection which gets congested during peak traffic flows.

The work has been welcomed by the Vision Kerikeri group which has strongly advocated for road flow and safety improvements along the road estimated to carry 11,000 vehicles a day.

Chairman Rod Brown said the group is also strongly in favour of road designs that encourage safe cycling and minimising traffic volume.

The Access Rd junction upgrade will see an existing footpath extended along the berm of Kerikeri Rd, accessing the shared-use pedestrian and cycle path running the length of the road.

FNDC infrastructure and assets general manager Andy Finch said the original thinking focused on improving traffic flow but now a greater emphasis has gone on encouraging cycling and walking.

"Residents know traffic volumes are increasing and this project is a response to that.''

The plan to reduce the peak hour bottleneck at the Access Rd corner will take away about 300m of grass berm on Kerikeri Rd. A retaining wall will support the Kerikeri Rd shared-use pathway.

Scheduled to start today and take about two months, it will cause some disruption to traffic. Contractors aim to retain two-way traffic flows throughout the construction period.

The council is discussing other improvements for Kerikeri Rd, Finch said.

Vision Kerikeri has made submission to the draft Long Term Plan (2018-2028) in support of three roading projects. They include a proposed heavy traffic bypass from Maraenui Dr to Mill Lane, pencilled into year three of the schedule.

A second grid road plan would see traffic to skirt Kerikeri's main street via Butler and Homestead Rds and out the other side of town near the New World roundabout. The third proposal, for about nine to 10 years away, is a Waipapa and Kapiro Rd link.