New era launched in Kerikeri's roading history

A new era in the history of Kerikeri and the Far North was launched today with the opening of the Kerikeri Heritage Bypass to traffic.

The 1.6 kilometre new road bypassing the Stone Store Basin historic precinct, the first stage of the $17 million project, has been completed on schedule and within budget.

Traffic was diverted to the bypass route at 1 a.m. and simultaneously the bridge at the Stone Store was closed off to through traffic, ending a 93-year chapter in the town's roading history.

Around 750 people took the opportunity yesterday to walk over the new bypass as a prelude to the opening of the route to traffic, following an early morning ceremony in which two carved poupou prepared by Ngati Rehia were unveiled and the new 82-metre bypass bridge was traditionally blessed.

The last vehicle to use the single-lane concrete bridge in the Stone Store Basin was a 1913-14 Model T Ford made available by Pete's Pioneer & Transport Museum at Kerikeri. The Model T symbolically completed a full circle in the history of the bridge – it was also a model T Ford which made the first crossing of the original wooden bridge in the basin in 1915.

The change-over was completed without protest action despite earlier threats of direct action to prevent the removal of the old bridge. Flowers were tied to the handrails of the old bridge over the weekend as members of the public marked the passing of an era.

However the mood was generally buoyant throughout the weekend as the public looked with anticipation towards the opening of the new bypass route first mooted more than 25 years earlier.

Work will start immediately on the demolition of the old bridge. The bridge will be stripped of its handrails and service ducts before concrete cutters move in later today to begin taking the first section of the decking apart.

Construction first started in November 2006 and the project is expected to be fully completed later this year. The final stages will include the construction of a 56-metre new pedestrian bridge across the Kerikeri River about 70 metres upstream from the old road bridge, the removal of the old bridge and the construction of permanent traffic cul-de-sacs to provide for traffic to turn around on each side of the river within the Stone Store Basin.

The project is expected to be fully completed before Christmas 2008.