Residents fuming over clogged road

Construction work is driving residents of a West Auckland street mad, with cars clogging their path and restricting large vehicles’ access.

Resident Janice Leask said Rowan Tce had always had parking problems, but the parked cars have increased since construction began on Vera Rd, near Te Atatu Rd. Rowan Tce is the dead-end street off of Vera Rd.

“I’ve never seen it so bad,” Mrs Leask said.

Auckland Transport alerted residents that work to widen the pavement on Vera Rd, heading up to Te Atatu Rd would start in late April and last for a month.

Resident Katica Covich said the problem lay in the fact that non-resident commuters who usually parked on Vera Rd were instead parking on Rowan Tce.

Mrs Covich said her husband had trouble driving his truck through the street. Her rubbish was also not collected for three days because the rubbish collection truck could not get through.

Resident Paula Dobbs complained to Auckland Transport (AT) when the whole street was blocked with cars either side of the road recently.

“I had to get John [another neighbour] to drive my car on the grass because I couldn’t get through,” she said.

Mrs Leask said the fire brigade and ambulance would not be able to drive up the street.

“I had a hard job getting out going to see my husband in the [rest] home. I’m at my wit’s end,” she added.

Mrs Dobbs said a spokesperson from construction company Higgins promised her temporary cones would be placed on one side of the street.

AT media advisor James Ireland said cones were placed on Rowan Tce after it was alerted to the issue.

But some people want a more permanent solution.

Mrs Leask said she was asking residents if they wanted yellow lines on one side of the road.

Mr Ireland said for the changes to be made permanent, AT engineers would need to evaluate the road to see if it was necessary.

They would consult with residents and draw up designs, then submit them to the traffic control committee for approval.

Mr Ireland said they would need to factor in the scale of the changes, the outcome of the consultation and complexity of the designs.

The roadworks on Te Atatu Rd are expected to be finished by mid-year.