Work on lower Willis Street starts this week

MEDIA RELEASE

9 January 2012

Work on lower Willis Street starts this week

The final phase of Wellington City Council’s upgrade work on Willis Street from Lambton Quay through to Boulcott Street starts this week.

The $1 million project will include new traffic lights at Chews Lane to give pedestrians another safe place to cross on this busy bus route.

Starting near Stewart Dawson’s corner, this work will complete the lower Willis Street area, enhancing the look of the street and further improving the Golden Mile – the most popular pedestrian route through the central city.

The pavements between Willeston and Mercer streets and on the other side from Lambton Quay to Boulcott Street will be brought up to the same high standard as elsewhere on the Golden Mile.

Pedestrian crossing points at intersections will be upgraded, including installing tactile pavers to help people with impaired vision. The new signals and crossing at Chews Lane are intended to encourage more people to cross safely but won’t be in use until the work is nearly finished.

The project also includes laying new kerb and channelling; putting in new lighting poles and lights and resealing sections of the street.

The Council’s Director of Infrastructure, Stavros Michael, says the completion of the Chews Lane development and the Telecom building has meant more people are now living and working in this vicinity – and using Chews Lane as a through-route to the waterfront - which has increased pedestrian activity in the area.

“Upgrade work like this can be a bit of a pain while it happens but, in the long-term, having an attractive, pedestrian-friendly city centre is a huge benefit to retailers and the city. As well as shoppers and visitors, large numbers of people use the Golden Mile to walk to and from work and our busy, compact city centre is the heart of the region’s economy. We know that it is one of the things that attracts people to live, work, visit and spend money here.”

The work is expected to take about five months with the bulk of it being done in sections to minimise disruption.

Pedestrians will be able to use both sides of the street at all times and get to all shops and businesses. Particularly noisy work won’t be carried out between 12 noon and 2pm and work on the road will be kept to a minimum at peak times, 7–9am and 4–6pm.

The Willis Street bus stops will have to move slightly while work is done in these parts of the street and temporary bus stops will be signposted.
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