Reopening Waipawa underpass marks another milestone in reconnecting community after Cyclone Gabrielle

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council’s reopened Harker Street – a vital connection to State Highway 2 for the Waipawa community - after it was destroyed in Cyclone Gabrielle.

Deputy Mayor Kelly Annand said our Waipawa community made it very clear that the reopening of this road was a priority.

“It’s awesome to see Harker St open again, which we were able to make happen with external funding, ticking off another vital piece of work from the recovery plan,” Deputy Mayor Kelly said.

“The reopening provides another way to get in and out of this area - an important part of reconnecting the community and rebuilding resilience.”

The street has been closed since the cyclone hit in February 2023. Funding for the repairs was the major barrier to completing the repairs, with the finishing touches done on Monday morning.

The rail overbridge and steel structure that protects the bridge was extensively damaged in the cyclone, with the repair of the road and the bridge protection work being funded through the Government’s ‘Better Off Funding’. Work began at the end of May. Members of the community and Waipawa Primary School joined the Deputy Mayor and Councillors at the ribbon cutting and celebrated with a bbq to celebrate this milestone.

“What seems like such a simple piece of infrastructure has far-reaching implications, it helps with the movement of people through the area and is super important to the emotional wellbeing of the community. I am really happy we were able to deliver this.”

Harker Street is an important link for businesses, sports clubs, the holiday park and a second access point for Waipawa Primary School. The project included raising a pedestrian crossing on the street by the primary school, which slows traffic on the road and improves safety for the school community.

The 3 pm rush outside the school will be a calmer, more enjoyable experience, Principal Paul Jamieson said.

“The bottom line is these improvements make it safer for our kids. This project means that people won’t drop into second gear and speed up as they go past the school, just to get into town faster,” Jamieson said.

“It might take a few seconds longer to get into town, but that’s better than the alternative of what could happen to our kids.”

19 August 2024

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