Traffic congestion in Wellington city is adding to the price-tag of the donation-funded St Mary of the Angels earthquake strengthening.
It is the view of St Mary’s Parish Priest, Fr Barry Scannell who made the comment in Wellington’s Dominion Post newspaper.
Fr Scannell’s comment came in response to complaints that four major construction projects in Boulcott St are contributing to significant congestion in the city.
Fr Scannell claims that St Mary’s is a ‘good citizen’ and he disputes that work on the inner-city church is adding to the congestion.
With excellent project management at St Mary of the Angels, most of the work is off the street. The parish has also purchased five parking spaces.
“The church paid $800 a week to the council to hire five parking spaces off the road where trucks and work vehicles could park, and unload materials,” he told Joel Maxwell of the DomPost.
Other work on Boulcott St includes a revamp of the old Dominion Post building, seismic strengthening of the Majestic Centre and construction of an eight-storey apartment building.
Helen Moate, of McKee Fehl, project manager for the revamp of the former Dominion Post building, said the company worked with the council on a plan for dealing with congestion on Boulcott St.
A spokeswoman for the apartment development said also said the construction was covered by the traffic management plan submitted to the council, adding their building would be finished in a few weeks’ time.
The DomPost was unable to reach the Majestic Centre owner Kiwi Property for comment.
Wellington City Council spokeswoman Victoria Barton-Chapple said the Council there were traffic plans in place but the Council had no control over the completion of the projects.
Source: Dominion Post
