'We knew it was gonna happen': Fatal Whenuapai crash prompts petition for speed changes stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The crash took place just three days after an aggressive protest halted the implementation of a speed bump in the same area. On Wednesday a group of protesters stopped work outside Grey Lynn School with an “unlawful” demonstration, because they thought the shortened design of the traffic mound was “incredibly dangerous” to vehicles.
Caroline Williams/Stuff
The mound was designed to slow traffic down outside Grey Lynn School. The school, located close to Firth Rd and Selbourne St, was one of many targeted by Auckland Transport as part of its Safe School Speeds project, designed to improve the safety of students and local children.
Work on the station upgrade began in 2019 and it was one of four shovel-ready transport projects that received Government funding last year. The Government provided $47m for the Papatoetoe project, while approximately $12m came from the Regional Fuel Tax and the balance has come from Crown Infrastructure Partners and development contributions. When the design contract was awarded in early 2019 it was expected to cost $58.8m, but according to Polley the cost of the project has increased due to rising costs and the impact of Covid-19 on international supply chains. AT had originally planned to have the station up and running by late 2020, or early 2021. But last year’s lockdowns and other logistical issues around shutting down the rail lines for the work meant the timeline for the project was extended.
Local Matters - Big poles bewilder Mahurangi East residents localmatters.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from localmatters.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.