Rakaia business owners are up in arms at roadworks starting without consultation that will limit access for months, and potentially permanently.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency contractors have started installing the in-road scales in Rakaia as part of a split-site Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC), previously called weigh stations, just north of the Rakaia River.
Canterbury Motorcycles and Kawasaki Canterbury Ltd owner, Clint Collett had no idea the work was coming and was given short notice it was starting.
Waka Kotahi announced on January 12 that work on the project would be starting shortly and Collett said the first they knew about it was on January 13, with the road cones arriving on January 17.
“My blood was boiling when I saw them set up the road cones on Tuesday morning after we had only been served the paperwork on Friday,” Collett said.
“There was no consultation before that at all.”
Waka Kotahi’s director regional relationships, James Caygill, acknowledged “it would have been better to advise businesses earlier, however, the Christmas break made that not possible”.
Collett accepted roadworks were inevitable but is frustrated they do not allow for any access by northbound traffic.
“We haven’t even got access to our own site anymore, only from the southbound lane, so we have to drive right through Rakaia and turnaround by the bridge – which is a crash risk – and then pull into the forecourt [as there is no street parking].
“My business is a destination business so if people are coming to buy a motorbike they will come and do it, but for a convenience place like Harvey’s Bakehouse next door, it is going to kill their business.
“We don’t know how long it is going to take.”
Because of the placement of the scales, Collett believed the two businesses were also set to lose some or all of the roadside parking on the north side of SH1 across the road.
The Rakaia Community Association has started a petition to change the traffic management plan to restore access for the businesses and ensure parking is retained.
Collett questions the placement of the in-road scales as he believes they are not in the right place as trucks can turn off to the south, go around the block, and pull back onto SH1 and avoid being recorded.
“It’s right in the wrong spot for what they are trying to achieve.”
They could have shifted it 100m north closer to the Rakaia Bridge he said to ensure they capture all the traffic and wouldn’t have impacted businesses.

• Jonathan Leask