It will be March before Middle Road reopens to through traffic.
One of the main routes south out of Havelock North, Middle Road has been closed since May as services are installed for the Iona Urban Development Area. That development comprises between 350 and 400 new dwellings, with about 600 metres of Middle Road having been dug up thus far.
A Hastings District Council (HDC) spokesperson says Middle Road will be out of action for 10 months, with traffic to continue being redirected up Breadalbane Road. This is the first stage of planned traffic disruption to accommodate the development. “On Middle Road, we are extending council-owned water, wastewater and stormwater services from Breadalbane through to 150 Middle Road,’’ the HDC spokesperson said.
The work has meant residents and visitors are no longer able to park on Breadalbane Road.
“Formal detours are in place for the duration of these works, including Breadalbane Road. The cones and no parking provisions along Breadalbane Road are in place to ensure the safe operation of this detour – i.e. the road is not wide enough for cars to park as well as two lanes of traffic,’’ said the spokesperson. “On berm [off-street] parking is permitted.’’
Once the work is completed on one part of Middle Road, attention will turn to its intersection with Iona and Gilpin Roads. That’s when the second round of service installation will begin. “The timeline for this stage is yet to be finalised. Hastings District Council will advise further information on stage two when details are confirmed.’’
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I consider it unfair for the road to be out of action for so long. Apart from putting unnecessary pressure on alternative routes it was a popular circlular walking route for locals.
350 to 400 dwellings? Haven’t they worked it out yet? And where are the medical and schooling facilities coming from?
A lot of people are wondering about that, along with asking if there is space in the development for what used to be taken for granted ‘amenities’ like parks, green spaces etc, in another big extension to what used to be a very liveable town.
Ya it would be nice if it was less than ten months. What an inconvenience!
Pave paradise put up a parking lot!
This is not good for Birdwoods!! Hospitality is hard enough already and then to have our main access road closed for such a long time is really hard on us.
However there are alternative routes signposted, so please keep supporting us through the tough times! We are open every day and warmly welcome you x
Gilpin Road is deteriorating thru trucks. Hope there is going to be footpaths along Middle and Iona Roads as Havelock has a shortage of paths. Iona Road has deteriorated too