CBD footpath repairs will be completed

Some footpaths in Whangarei may be in a slightly sorry state for a short while as fibre optic cable is being installed to bring superfast broadband to the city.

​Northpower is currently installing cable throughout central Whangarei. The  network has already been installed in Woodhill, Central Ave, Morningside, Port Road, Tikipunga and parts of Kensington.

Work is also underway in Southern and Maunu areas, this will be followed by Kamo, Riverside and Onerahi in 2013/2014.

Northpower teams are using existing ducting where possible, but in some places they need to take up pieces of footpath to get access to existing services, and to allow for additional hardware to be installed.

“We have an agreement with Northpower that the footpaths will be restored area by area,” said Council’s Road Corridor Co-ordinator Simon Megchelse.

“Short-term fixes are happening immediately after new manholes go in and ducting is laid, but because further work is often needed and because it is more  economical to do the final fix in one sweep, the first round of repairs will not be of a ‘finished’ standard. We expect the footpaths will be back in proper order by the end of October.”

Mr Megchelse said anyone concerned that a temporary repair was becoming dangerous should call Council on 09 430 4200 and report the matter.