📸 Work continues near the New Plymouth Clock Tower, developing Queen Street as part of the new "West End Crossing". Are you excited for this upgrade in the CBD, or do you think it's a "nice to have" project that should have been paused given the current economic climate? Comment below 👇
🤔 If this is the first you've heard of it, here's an overview of the development from the NPDC website:
"The concept for the streets and spaces surrounding Ngāmotu house recognises the significant civic, commercial, hospitality and cultural contributions of the White Hart Building, the Len Lye Centre and Govett-Brewster Gallery, and Robe Park and Clock Tower to the vibrancy of the city.
With the likely continuation of this given the increasing number of people working in the planned new commercial spaces, the concept creates a threshold into the city that galvanises these features and supports movement and activity in the city centre. Known as the West End Crossing, this project within the Pūkākā Link includes:
- The upgrade of Devon Street to include wider paths, low planting and street trees, tighter traffic lanes, additional parking and loading bays that combine to calm traffic to 30km/h and signal the entry to the city centre.
- A raised crossing over Devon Street by the Clock Tower to enable safe crossing to and from the park and commercial buildings.
- Creation of a shared space on upper Queen Street between Devon Street and King Street that builds on the attractions of the adjacent businesses and gallery spaces. The space will enable events and flexibility with more streamlined traffic management. Note: the existing one-way section between Devon and King streets would have its traffic flow reversed; traffic would remain two-way between King and St Aubyn streets.
- The upgrade of the King Street and Queen Street intersection to address driver visibility and pedestrian crossing issues. This includes raised crossings, kerb extensions and low planting.
The space between the White Hart, Len Lye Centre and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is kept open and uncluttered, with simple planting bed arrangements and forms, low planting to keep view open.
Paving is carried across Devon Street to beneath the Clock Tower and extends beyond Ngāmotu House as a unifying element between the unique architectural forms. The development plan includes works on King Street and Robe Street."
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Let us know what you think in the comments below 👇
📸 Sketches, concept drawings and project info is from the NPDC website. Photos are from Tony @ Taranaki Media.
