Roadworks pushing businesses ‘to the absolute brink of collapse'

Saturday, 6 June 2026

Yusuf Corten had nine employees at Pizzeria Bella on Nelson’s Bridge St when roadworks began on the central city road nine months ago.

Now he has three, including him and his son - and only the bar manager is getting paid.

It is one among many businesses on Bridge St that are struggling in the midst of lengthy roadworks - and they’re calling for relief from the Nelson City Council.

However, mayor Nick Smith says there are no easy answers, and everyone has to accept periods of disruption.

The council is upgrading its three-water services along Bridge St to enable inner city developments, and reduce the flooding of Wakatu Square car park during king tides.

Above ground, the council planned to make Bridge St and Haven Rd a “people-focused corridor”.

The Government committed $36.4 million to the ”Bridge to Better” project, with the council committing $32m.

Corten said his shop didn’t have a single customer on Sunday, as diggers ploughed up the road outside the restaurant’s front door.

On top of rising business costs - totalling hundreds of dollars more a week - Corten was struggling to pay the mortgage on his house and shoes for his daughter, he said.

His loans had mounted to $120,000, and he was seeking another loan to try to keep the business’ doors open.

Lenny Wills, who owns Godzilla Clothing further along the street, said his turnover had halved since the road works - which started at the end of last year - ramped up a couple of months ago.

“We are struggling to survive.”

Cars couldn’t pass down or park on the road, fewer people were walking along it, and there was “extreme” noise and disruption as pipes under the road were replaced, he said.

“It’s like a war zone.”

About 15 Bridge St business owners and managers gathered on Thursday to seek ways to keep their businesses afloat, with the works expected to continue until the end of the year.

A petition to the council was circulated demanding immediate help, including rates relief, emergency hardship grants and support for an appeal to landlords for temporary rent reduction.

The petition called for an urgent meeting with Smith and council executives “to establish an actionable relief timeline”.

“The combination of ongoing roading disruptions, severely restricted access, skyrocketing fixed overheads (rates and rent), and crashing foot traffic has pushed our businesses to the absolute brink of collapse,” the petition said.

Corten said while businesses were happy the roadworks would improve the street, that was inconsequential for those forced to close as a result of the work.

The council had so far ignored individual business appeals for help, he said.

Nelson City Council community engagement manager Paul Shattock told the meeting that the council had been running promotional activities to try to get foot traffic into Bridge St, and the council “felt” for the businesses.

“We know this is disruptive.”

Shattock said councils didn’t provide financial compensation, but he would take the business’ concerns back to the council.

“If there is anything we can do from an advocacy perspective I don’t know, but we’re happy to … talk to the relevant people that could possibly help.”

The 18 month project was challenging, with contractors digging down 4.5 metres to replace pipes, he said.

“For us, success is for the Bridge St project to be completed, but for you all to be here still, when it is completed.”

Smith said he was happy to meet with businesses, and acknowledged the disruption, especially during traditionally quiet winter months.

But the roadworks were necessary, he said.

“We do need to replace the ageing sewage and stormwater pipes in the central city. It makes sense to get the power and fibre cables upgraded at the same time and update the streetscape.”

The council was taking steps to support businesses, including providing temporary pedestrian and vehicle access, scheduling works to reduce the impact, extending free parking and promoting the area.

People often wanted compensation when such works occurred, but the cost would fall to ratepayers, he said.

“Every road, footpath and pipe needs to be resealed or upgraded to avoid the network becoming dilapidated and we all, wherever we live or have businesses, have to accept periods of disruption.”