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Fort Street area upgrade

Background | About the area | Final design | Design features | Public feedback


Background

Artist impression of Fort Streeet.

Artist impression of Fort Street

 

Six streets in the Fort Street area are to be transformed into a high quality attractive destination as part of Auckland City Council's CBD streetscapes upgrade programme.

The streets for upgrade are Fort Street, Fort Lane, Jean Batten Place, Gore and Commerce streets (between Fort and Customs streets) and Shortland Street (between Queen Street and Jean Batten Place).

Public consultation on the draft design ran in September 2009. Public feedback and advice from council officers and specialist advisers was taken into consideration by the council's Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee and Transport Committee who approved a final concept design incorporating changes in December 2009.

The first stage of Fort Street (the shared space design in Fort Street west, Fort Lane and Jean Batten Place) will be evaluated prior to determining the final configuration of stage 3 (Fort Street east). Stakeholders will be invited to participate in this process.

The upgrade aims to create a lively, people focused destination that reflects the area's rich cultural and geographic history. Areas of shared space, artworks, interesting design features, seating, vegetation, lighting and high quality stone paving will create an attractive, stylish destination.

The project objectives aim to:

  • provide greater pedestrian priority throughout the area and more space for people
  • create a distinctive and popular destination
  • improve spaces that support businesses and residents, and provide opportunities for the Fort Street area to be a popular destination in the CBD
  • better connect the area with the surrounding network of streets
  • create high quality, attractive and durable streets that contribute to a sustainable and maintainable CBD.

Work will be undertaken in three stages. The first stage, covering Fort Street west, Jean Batten Place and Shortland Street south, is expected to begin in mid 2010 and be complete by July 2011. The second stage will include Commerce Street, Gore Street, and the mid block of Fort, and is expected to begin toward the end of 2011 and be completed by the end of 2012. The remainder of Fort Street, stage three, is expected to begin in early 2012 and be completed by the end of 2012.

View construction phases (129k PDF)

This project is part of a 10-year programme to transform CBD streets and open spaces and create a great city. The cost of upgrading the Fort Street area will be about $22.99 million and is funded by the CBD targeted rate.

Time line

December 2008 Planning and design phase
September 2009 Public consultation on the draft design
December 2009 Final design approved by council's Arts, Culture and Recreation and Transport committees
November 2009 to June 2010 Further design, stakeholder involvement as required
May 2010 Preparation and planning for construction
Discussions with property owners, residents and others on construction programme
August 2010 Phase one construction anticipated to commence
July 2011 Phase one construction anticipated to be completed
November 2011 Phase two construction anticipated to commence
End of 2012 Phase two construction anticipated to be completed
Early 2012 Phase three construction anticipated to commence (subject to evaluation of stage one)
End of 2012 Phase three construction anticipated to be completed


Note
: these dates may change over the course of the project.

 

 

 

Published December 2009