Guided tours planned for Heritage Bypass

The public will have an opportunity next month for some first-hand knowledge on progress being made with one of the most ambitious roading projects in the Far North in more than a century -the Kerikeri Heritage Bypass.

Free guided public tours of the construction site have been arranged for Saturday 01 and Sunday 02 September 2007.

The tours of the government-funded 1.6 kilometre roading link between Kerikeri and Waipapa Roads will run from 1 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. and will be supported by static displays including information on artifacts unearthed during the first 12 months of the construction phase. The site will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The project is designed to take through traffic away from the historic Stone Store precinct and will include the Far North’s first purpose-designed cycling and pedestrian track. The bypass will also link with new sports fields currently under construction at the Waipapa Road exit.

The tours will commence at the Kerikeri Road entrance to the site. Parking will be available along Kerikeri Road and local Scouts will operate a fund-raising barbeque on site.

Roading & Drainage Strategic Advisor Fiona Vessey said today the council had looked at a number of options to open the site to public inspection, but because of safety issues, guided tours was the only practical way to satisfy community interest.

“This is the first opportunity the public will have had to take a close look at the site and see first hand the progress being made.

“However the open days are very much weather dependent and if conditions are unsuitable we may be forced to cancel or postpone the tours at the last minute,” she

said.

If that was necessary notices would be posted at the site entrance.