Auckland Transport had agreed that contractors, who had been working at the bottom of the road, would pack up and leave in time for the light show. Photo / File
Auckland Transport had agreed that contractors, who had been working at the bottom of the road, would pack up and leave in time for the light show. Photo / File
A multi-million dollar rebuild of Auckland's favorite road isn't stopping its residents from turning on the lights for Christmas for the 25th year in a row.
Long-time Franklin Rd Christmas lights coordinator Ross Thorby confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that its tradition of entertaining families with its free festive display will continue, in spite of significant redevelopments to the Ponsonby street over the past year.
The thoroughfare between Ponsonby and Auckland's CBD is getting improved footpaths, street lights and a cycleway.
Thorby said right from the beginning of the project, in consultation with residents, Auckland Transport had agreed that contractors would pack up and leave in time for the light show.
From this week work crews will leave - they've been operating at the bottom of the road near New World- and will be gone by the end of November.
This year the lights will be switched on by a "big name" around 8pm on December 1, but Thorby is keeping mum on who gets the honour.
On other occasions former Prime Minister Helen Clark, America's Cup skipper Dean Barker, musician Dave Dobbyn, and actor Karl Urban have all done the job.
"The street has been neglected for so long we just wanted to cooperate with (officials) and get it over and done with as soon as possible," Thorby said.
"It's the first time they've done anything major and we're getting new everything. (Auckland Transport) has consulted with us all the way along. They've been really cooperative.
This year the lights will be switched on by a "big name" around 8pm on December 1. Photo / File
"It's quite cool eh...I was quite flattered and stunned with that- they said of course they'll be out in time for the lights. I thought, 'you're going to stop a $16m project for our little community?'"
Thorby said the community would enjoy the Christmas lights and would be able to drive the length of the street as usual. More than 100 homes typically participate in the lights, spending thousands on decorating their homes.
This year there will be 'snow' and the lights will run until Boxing Day.
Auckland Transport media spokesperson Mark Hannan said it was very important that the tradition be kept alive.
"That's an iconic part of Auckland and we were never going to interfere with the Christmas lights," he said.
"The lights are of paramount importance and we always planned to work around them."
Work will resume in January with a roundabout to be built at the Wellington St intersection.
The two-stage upgrade will see the tree-lined street get a cycleway, new footpath and parking, a roundabout, better lighting, storm water drain improvements and a new bus stop. Work began last year and will continue into 2019.
