It’s taken longer than expected but a previously closed road leading to a busy east Auckland shopping precinct has finally opened to traffic.
Large concrete blocks had been used to block off access to Bellingham Road, located off Stancombe Road in Flat Bush.
Pedestrians and cyclists were still able to use the road, connecting Stancombe Road to Ormiston Town Centre, but motor vehicles were not.
Among the people calling for the road to be opened earlier this year was local resident, justice of the peace, and marriage celebrant Raji Singh.
He contacted Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, Auckland Council and the Howick Local Board in June to say Bellingham Road is completed but still closed.
Singh told the Times he has a friend with a business at Ormiston Town Centre and they’re unhappy with the situation as “they’re losing business”.
“This is already built and working fine, and people can go through, so why do they make the businesses suffer?
“It will make it so much easier for residents to go to the town centre.”
Singh’s email to the mayor was forwarded to Auckland Transport (AT), which told him in a response that a section of Bellingham Road – referred to as Main Street Link – had been managed by a private developer and construction was completed in January, 2024.
“Due to this, the process of transferring ownership of the Bellingham Road extension to AT is still in progress.”
That process involved working through various legal matters and the road couldn’t open to the public until its ownership had transferred to AT, the agency said.
“AT still anticipates the Main Street Link will open to the public by the end of June 2024.”
The developer involved is Todd Property Group, which built Ormiston Town Centre.
Bellingham Road was finally opened to vehicle traffic at a ceremony attended by local mana whenua and Howick Local Board members among other dignitaries earlier this month.
Singh says he heard about the event from Howick Local Board chairperson Damian Light and he would have been there had he been invited.
“It would be nice to be part of something that is good for the community,” he says.
Singh says he’s heard from friends who are retailers at the Ormiston Town Centre and they’re pleased the road has opened.
“I know people who live here and some of them walk to the shopping centre.
“When it was blocked they could walk but it wasn’t safe, so now the road is open and people are walking there as well.
“I think businesses were putting pressure on the shopping centre management and I had pressure on the council side, so I think that’s activated to open it.”
Todd Property general manager land development Stephen Martin says: “We’re thrilled to see this new connection finally open to the community.
“Todd Property is proud to have contributed to this essential infrastructure, which we believe will greatly enhance connectivity and convenience for residents and businesses alike.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this road will have on the local area.”
