Editorial: Quay Street chaos - let this be the last time

'The nocturnal disturbance for the relatively small number of residences in the area would be minor compared to the delays for the 30,000 vehicles a day that use Quay St.' Photo / Paul Estcourt

Residents of Auckland's eastern suburbs must have uttered a groan when they read of looming traffic chaos as Quay St is dug up yet again. The busy thoroughfare will be reduced from two lanes to one either way for one or two street blocks at a time while power supply and telecommunications upgrades and a roading rebuild is done. The work will start during the Christmas break, and will continue until late March or early April. That is more than three months of misery for motorists caught in the congested inner city.

The same thing happened when similar work was done only two years ago. At that time, motorists' only solace lay in their belief that disruption of this magnitude was surely a one-off. But now, electricity lines company Vector says it was not possible to complete upgrade work - involving the laying of new cables and ducts - in the summer of 2008. And Auckland Transport will piggy-back on Vector's presence to rebuild the main section of Quay St, which has many short-term pothole repairs.

The work is doubtless necessary. Vector's upgrade will improve the security of existing electricity supply and provide enough capacity for the area's growth. But the road badly needs work. Parts of it resemble something from the Third World, so bad is the state of disrepair.

Things will be much improved for visitors for the Rugby World Cup and for the increasing number arriving on cruise ships at Queens Wharf. Over the next three months, however, tourists coming off those ships are likely to see chaotic traffic scenes far more in keeping with the clogged downtown areas of Beijing or Mexico City.

Vector and Auckland Transport must do as much as possible to alleviate that situation and the problems faced by motorists. But already, it is apparent that more could be done. Vector crews will work from 7am to 7pm over seven days a week. As with some other projects that have created considerable congestion, it is reasonable to ask why the work is not being done from 7pm to 7am. The nocturnal disturbance to the relatively small number of residences in the area would be minor compared to the delays for the 30,000 vehicles a day that use Quay St. Equally, there should be no question of motorists being unable to use the bus lane from Monday, when the work starts. This should not be a matter that becomes open for debate only when more commuters start returning to work on January 10.

Vector and Auckland Transport say that by combining their efforts, they will take up to six weeks off the overall time it would take to complete their work programmes separately. That is commendable, but it is clear there are oversights in their approach. There is also no suggestion that they have learned from the chaos of 2008 and that there will be less inconvenience this time.

In that regard, have they talked to Transport Agency about its recent work on the city's motorway system? Two projects - the new southbound viaduct across Newmarket and the bridge built beside the Mangere Bridge on the Southwestern Motorway - have not only been completed ahead of schedule but with tolerable disruption to motorists despite heavy traffic flows. Chaos that was predicted when the Viaduct had to be closed to traffic one weekend so the enormous gantry could be moved did not eventuate.

Those responsible for the Quay St work should be intent on achieving the same formula of work efficiency and as little inconvenience as possible. They should be ready, willing and able do better than in 2008. And frustrated motorists surely have the right to expect that this will be the last occasion that Quay St is dug up for many, many years.