The first stage in a $17 million project to help protect New Zealand's oldest buildings from flooding will be completed in June when a new 1.6km road in Kerikeri is opened to public traffic.
The Kerikeri Heritage Bypass is a direct road link across the Kerikeri River from
the town to Waipapa Rd, taking cars and heavy traffic away from the internationally recognised Kerikeri Basin heritage and conservation area.
Its historic precinct has the Stone Store and Kemp House buildings, which hold the highest possible Historic Places Trust classification in an area recently included in New Zealand's tentative list of World Heritage sites.
Demolition of the existing one-way basin traffic bridge across the river will follow later this year.
The existing wooden bridge is said to be a major factor in putting the old buildings at risk in times of flooding because of stormwater build-up.
Its removal is part of the project's funding deal which sees the Government picking up the $17 million overall tab via Land Transport NZ and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
A new pedestrian bridge is scheduled to be built across the river before the end of this year upstream from Kemp House and the Stone Store in the second stage of the project, while vehicle turning areas will be constructed on Kerikeri Rd, both north and south of the existing bridge and parking facilities improved.
The area attracts more than 30,000 visitors a year and is also widely used as a venue for family picnics and recreational activities.
An adventure ford through the river will be built for use by pedestrians when river flows are low.
The new traffic bypass comes with a new 80m road bridge and is expected to dramatically improve traffic flows between Kerikeri town and growing residential and commercial areas along Waipapa Rd, and to the Purerua Peninsula.
A dedicated walk and cycleway, with links to walking tracks along the Kerikeri River, is also part of the new road project.
