Cyclists, motorists and cricket watchers each have something to look forward to in 2020
Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Regional roading projects have stalled, Wellington's traffic is still not moving, and many central city buildings are still under repair. But Wellingtonians do have several developments to look forward to in 2020. Damian George reports.
Transmission Gully motorway
It may be tight, but transport planners insist this much-anticipated motorway north of Wellington City will make its 2020 deadline.
Originally scheduled to open in April this year, the 27-kilometre motorway between Linden in north Wellington and Paekākāriki on the Kāpiti Coast is now tentatively pencilled in for a November ribbon-cutting.
It's hoped the $850 million project will alleviate traffic congestion in and out of Wellington, and improve the region's transport resilience by creating an alternative roading link.
It has also been specifically designed to withstand a large natural disaster, such as an earthquake.
NZTA transport services general manager Brett Gliddon said in November he was hopeful the road would be open 'later in 2020'.
Cobham Drive cycleway
Cyclists roaming around Wellington's waterfront will have a clear run from the Miramar Cutting to Kilbirnie in 2020.
Wellington City Council associate transport portfolio leader Sarah Free said the cycleway between the cutting and the Evans Bay wind needle was on track to be completed by mid next year.
The two-way cycleway and separate walkway is part of the council's plan to turn the seaward side of Cobham Drive into an eastern 'gateway'.
It will include landscaping and tree planting, as well as seating and bike parking along the waterfront.
Meanwhile, Free said the Evans Bay cycleway - from Oriental Parade at Carlton Gore Rd to the Niwa building on Evans Bay Parade - was due to be completed in early 2021.
Basin Reserve Museum Stand
The heritage-listed Museum Stand was declared an earthquake risk and closed to spectators in 2012, dipping the Basin's capacity to under 7000.
But it's expected to open in time for the Black Caps' test match against India starting on February 21, meaning it will seat spectators for the first time in eight years.
Cricket Wellington chief executive Cam Mitchell said in November strengthening work was well on track.
'Worst case scenario, we'll open just the seating for India; best case scenario, the whole stand is open and available and we've got our offices and the museum is up-and-running.'
The city council decided in 2018 to spend $7.7 million on strengthening the stand rather than demolishing it, with the roof identified as the major area of concern.
It meant removing steel, re-cladding and strengthening it, and internally strengthening the walls. New concrete was laid over the top of the previous structures to prolong the building's lifespan.
Central city library
Wellington's Central Library remains closed for earthquake-strengthening, but a temporary inner-city library is set to open in May to help fill the gap.
The council recently announced the new Te Awe Library will open in the Harbour City Centre in Brandon St, and hold about 20,000 items.
Owned by Cornerstone Partners, the centre has recently undergone strengthening work of its own.
Community facilities portfolio leader Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons said the temporary library would be the largest of the council's three central city libraries, at about 1400 square metres.
The building was a blank canvas so the fit-out would take several months, Fitzsimons said.
Options for the closed library in Te Ngākau Civic Square are still being considered, but the repair bill could be upwards of $100m.
Central city apartment conversions
The first of potentially several former office buildings to be converted into apartment complexes is expected to open in the first half of next year.
The council has teamed up with The Wellington Company to convert the former Freemason House in Willis St into rental accommodation.
It hopes the conversion will be the first of many as it looks to tackle a housing shortage.
A council spokesman said there would be space for up to 150 people in 52 apartments in the converted building, to be known as Te Kāinga: Aroha.
'While we progress this project, we are also assessing a number of other buildings in the CBD to see if they are suitable to include in the apartment conversion scheme.'
The tenancy arrangements were still being finalised, but Fitzsimons said the intention was for rents to rise by no more than inflation over the next few years.