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Main Street, Upper Hutt, and nearby streets; town planning changes.
History
HistoryMain Street runs almost due east-west, although the eastern end is usually spoken of as the north end, and the western end as the south end.
Directions in 'Recollect' are geographical.
On two occasions, photographers went along the street, taking pictures of the buildings' fronts on both sides; Leo Morel covered Pine Avenue to Wilson Street in early 1948, and 40 years later, in 1988, somebody unidentified covered Pine Avenue to Geange Street.
Another series, which covered the whole central business district, was taken by Don McLeod at Christmas 2012.
City Council plans of the various street plans have been scanned; their titles all begin with 'Traffic management'.
A special resolution passed by the city council on Novemeber 5, 1973 established a pedestrian precinct. From Russell Street to Station Street (later renamed Geange Street) Main Street was closed to traffic, and various shelters on substantial concrete columns were built at either end.
On November 13, 1990, the 'Leader' printed a large coloured map of the central business district; it was proposed to open the precinct to traffic, and to close Queen Street. There were also sketches of Main Street, with very limited road space, and of a proposed 'village market' in Geange Street.
On October 29, 1991 it was reported that the Council was proposing a trial opening of the precinct to traffic for four to six weeks, with Russell Street as far as Mumby Lane turned into an open traffic-free area. There are colour pictures of signs placed at each end of the precinct, showing the proposed changes.
Alexander Contracting started the conversion on November 1; the bidding process was later criticised, but the job cost $12 000; the council had estimated $20 000.
On November 5 the 'Leader' printed a picture of a roofed structure at the eastern end being demolished; there are two 'Leader' pictures of later stages of that job in Recollect.
A November 12 advertisement included a detailed plan and spelt out the proposed changes; from Princes Street to Station Street, Main Street traffic changed to eastward-only, and Geange Street to westward. Station Street traffic was one-way; from Fergusson Drive and Main Street into Geange Street.
It was expected that the changes to Main Street would be complete by November 18, and the street would be open to two-way car traffic from November 16 to January 16; speed would be limited to 20 km/hour. Russell Street would be closed to traffic between Main Street and Mumby Lane from November 16 to February 16.
The 'Leader' printed no more photos of the conversion of the precinct in 1991, apart from a Council truck stuck in a hole just east of Russell Street, but the collection includes a print of the precinct with the roadway cleared, and some bollards and other details at the roadside The picture was probably taken when the precinct was first opened to traffic in November. The bollards were maybe 20 cm diameter and 80 cm tall, with rounded tops and a groove maybe 20 cm from the top.
After complaints from Russell Street businesses, their street was reopened to one-way traffic from Fergusson Drive (eastbound-only) to Main Street, on April 8.
On April 21 the council advertised a meeting to confirm a special order resolution revoking the Main Street precinct; there had been no objections.
On April 28 the 'Leader' printed a plan of Main Street from Logan Street to King Street, showing proposed changes; a small roundabout at Logan Street would be built later.
Retailers criticised the final central-area plan, which had only six car-parks, outside Hazelwoods, paved footpath, five metres wide, on the southern side; the council intended this to promote a pedestrian environment, but the retailers called it excessive. The plan had been adopted by June 2. However, the plan printed on June 23 showed nine parallel parks on the south side, and 13 angle parks on the north side.
Alexander Contracting won the over-$100,000-category Wellington Contractors Federation first prize for their work on the western end of the revitalisation project.
A plan of an extension to Woolworths car park was printed in black and white in the 'Leader' on June 23, 1992. The Princes Street/Fergusson Drive roundabout shown was already under way. The carpark extension comprised a former Post Office car park and part of Station Street; Thompson service lane was extended to allow through traffic from Russell Street past Woolworths service entry to the car park. Woolworths would pay for all changes, if no objections succeeded; there had been one from Andy Chaplow, worried about reduced Geange Street traffic; it was later withdrawn. An amended plan, with improved access from Fergusson Drive to Geange Street, was adopted in mid-July ('Leader', July 20). Andy Chaplow held four leases in Geange Street, and reacted with a 72-column-centimetre letter to the 'Leader' on August 2, and mentioned a 300-signature petition.
Also printed in the June 23 paper; a map showing Main Street reverting to two-way traffic from Princes Street to Station Street.
On August 24 the 'Leader' announced an upgrade to Main Street, between Station and Russell streets, to be completed by early November.
Chaplows had withdrawn the last objection by September 7.
By October 5 the southern third of Station Street had been named Station Crescent, and that area had been rebuilt. Station Street and the Geange Street car park were reinstated, with a taxi rank in Station Street near Woolworths; Princes Street reverted to two-way traffic between Geange Street and Fergusson Drive. The council printed a map in the 'Leader' and announced that the change would take place on October 7.
In a 'New Look City Centre' advertising feature on November 30, Monier Clay Pavers advertised that they had a 40 000 square foot (3700 square metres, but they weren't thinking metric) paver display; 160 000 Sorrento and Palermo clay pavers had been used. Alexander Contracting Co Ltd had been 'the Main Contractor for Stages I & II of the CBD Revitalisation', they said. A map showing public two-hour and unlimited car parking and shop-owned parking was printed in colour.
The December 7 'Leader' printed a letter from a Mrs Hamilton, welcoming the new roundabout at the Pine Avenue intersection.
The December 21 'Leader' printed a picture of Plant Express Garden Centre's Mark Rammell with some of the 70 hanging baskets of bedding plants they were installing.
The city council published a plan of the Russell St/Mumby Lane car park in the September 13, 1993 'Leader'.
The October 4 'leader' printed a picture of a model of a proposed artwork for Russell Street; twisting red and green poles, up to 11 metres high, by Dunedin's Siegfried Koglmeier. A November 1 picture showed a car's exhaust system mounted vertical on an angle-iron base, placarded "For sale $52,000. this unique work, indigenous to the city of Upper Hutt, evolved from much EXHAUSTive effort. The lower part of the work, the more complex part of the structure, symbolises the DRIVE, the energy, and the fire contained within the heart of the city. The upper section with its graceful yet torturous curves represents the city's struggle through and around the many obstacles it finds in its path - to emerge strong and vibrant".
April 26, 1994; the council had allocated $25 000,, and hoped for $25 000 from the QE II Arts Council, but received $15 000; fewer poles were likely, with none added to surrounding buildings. Local engineering companies had been asked to quote for installing the work.
May 30; the shapes in a photo-impression were much more convoluted and tightly curved than those seen on a picture of a model; Brian Armstrong, a local specialist in ornamental ironwork, had refused to tender for the job.
A later letter to the editor suggested that the site would be the ideal place to disguise one of the new-fangled cellphone towers.
Main Road- Fergusson Drive change.
A Notice in the Upper Hutt Leader on 6 March 1968 stated "It is intended that 'Fergusson Drive' will apply to the Main Road from Silverstream Bridge to the Brown Owl via Martin Street"
Directions in 'Recollect' are geographical.
On two occasions, photographers went along the street, taking pictures of the buildings' fronts on both sides; Leo Morel covered Pine Avenue to Wilson Street in early 1948, and 40 years later, in 1988, somebody unidentified covered Pine Avenue to Geange Street.
Another series, which covered the whole central business district, was taken by Don McLeod at Christmas 2012.
City Council plans of the various street plans have been scanned; their titles all begin with 'Traffic management'.
A special resolution passed by the city council on Novemeber 5, 1973 established a pedestrian precinct. From Russell Street to Station Street (later renamed Geange Street) Main Street was closed to traffic, and various shelters on substantial concrete columns were built at either end.
On November 13, 1990, the 'Leader' printed a large coloured map of the central business district; it was proposed to open the precinct to traffic, and to close Queen Street. There were also sketches of Main Street, with very limited road space, and of a proposed 'village market' in Geange Street.
On October 29, 1991 it was reported that the Council was proposing a trial opening of the precinct to traffic for four to six weeks, with Russell Street as far as Mumby Lane turned into an open traffic-free area. There are colour pictures of signs placed at each end of the precinct, showing the proposed changes.
Alexander Contracting started the conversion on November 1; the bidding process was later criticised, but the job cost $12 000; the council had estimated $20 000.
On November 5 the 'Leader' printed a picture of a roofed structure at the eastern end being demolished; there are two 'Leader' pictures of later stages of that job in Recollect.
A November 12 advertisement included a detailed plan and spelt out the proposed changes; from Princes Street to Station Street, Main Street traffic changed to eastward-only, and Geange Street to westward. Station Street traffic was one-way; from Fergusson Drive and Main Street into Geange Street.
It was expected that the changes to Main Street would be complete by November 18, and the street would be open to two-way car traffic from November 16 to January 16; speed would be limited to 20 km/hour. Russell Street would be closed to traffic between Main Street and Mumby Lane from November 16 to February 16.
The 'Leader' printed no more photos of the conversion of the precinct in 1991, apart from a Council truck stuck in a hole just east of Russell Street, but the collection includes a print of the precinct with the roadway cleared, and some bollards and other details at the roadside The picture was probably taken when the precinct was first opened to traffic in November. The bollards were maybe 20 cm diameter and 80 cm tall, with rounded tops and a groove maybe 20 cm from the top.
After complaints from Russell Street businesses, their street was reopened to one-way traffic from Fergusson Drive (eastbound-only) to Main Street, on April 8.
On April 21 the council advertised a meeting to confirm a special order resolution revoking the Main Street precinct; there had been no objections.
On April 28 the 'Leader' printed a plan of Main Street from Logan Street to King Street, showing proposed changes; a small roundabout at Logan Street would be built later.
Retailers criticised the final central-area plan, which had only six car-parks, outside Hazelwoods, paved footpath, five metres wide, on the southern side; the council intended this to promote a pedestrian environment, but the retailers called it excessive. The plan had been adopted by June 2. However, the plan printed on June 23 showed nine parallel parks on the south side, and 13 angle parks on the north side.
Alexander Contracting won the over-$100,000-category Wellington Contractors Federation first prize for their work on the western end of the revitalisation project.
A plan of an extension to Woolworths car park was printed in black and white in the 'Leader' on June 23, 1992. The Princes Street/Fergusson Drive roundabout shown was already under way. The carpark extension comprised a former Post Office car park and part of Station Street; Thompson service lane was extended to allow through traffic from Russell Street past Woolworths service entry to the car park. Woolworths would pay for all changes, if no objections succeeded; there had been one from Andy Chaplow, worried about reduced Geange Street traffic; it was later withdrawn. An amended plan, with improved access from Fergusson Drive to Geange Street, was adopted in mid-July ('Leader', July 20). Andy Chaplow held four leases in Geange Street, and reacted with a 72-column-centimetre letter to the 'Leader' on August 2, and mentioned a 300-signature petition.
Also printed in the June 23 paper; a map showing Main Street reverting to two-way traffic from Princes Street to Station Street.
On August 24 the 'Leader' announced an upgrade to Main Street, between Station and Russell streets, to be completed by early November.
Chaplows had withdrawn the last objection by September 7.
By October 5 the southern third of Station Street had been named Station Crescent, and that area had been rebuilt. Station Street and the Geange Street car park were reinstated, with a taxi rank in Station Street near Woolworths; Princes Street reverted to two-way traffic between Geange Street and Fergusson Drive. The council printed a map in the 'Leader' and announced that the change would take place on October 7.
In a 'New Look City Centre' advertising feature on November 30, Monier Clay Pavers advertised that they had a 40 000 square foot (3700 square metres, but they weren't thinking metric) paver display; 160 000 Sorrento and Palermo clay pavers had been used. Alexander Contracting Co Ltd had been 'the Main Contractor for Stages I & II of the CBD Revitalisation', they said. A map showing public two-hour and unlimited car parking and shop-owned parking was printed in colour.
The December 7 'Leader' printed a letter from a Mrs Hamilton, welcoming the new roundabout at the Pine Avenue intersection.
The December 21 'Leader' printed a picture of Plant Express Garden Centre's Mark Rammell with some of the 70 hanging baskets of bedding plants they were installing.
The city council published a plan of the Russell St/Mumby Lane car park in the September 13, 1993 'Leader'.
The October 4 'leader' printed a picture of a model of a proposed artwork for Russell Street; twisting red and green poles, up to 11 metres high, by Dunedin's Siegfried Koglmeier. A November 1 picture showed a car's exhaust system mounted vertical on an angle-iron base, placarded "For sale $52,000. this unique work, indigenous to the city of Upper Hutt, evolved from much EXHAUSTive effort. The lower part of the work, the more complex part of the structure, symbolises the DRIVE, the energy, and the fire contained within the heart of the city. The upper section with its graceful yet torturous curves represents the city's struggle through and around the many obstacles it finds in its path - to emerge strong and vibrant".
April 26, 1994; the council had allocated $25 000,, and hoped for $25 000 from the QE II Arts Council, but received $15 000; fewer poles were likely, with none added to surrounding buildings. Local engineering companies had been asked to quote for installing the work.
May 30; the shapes in a photo-impression were much more convoluted and tightly curved than those seen on a picture of a model; Brian Armstrong, a local specialist in ornamental ironwork, had refused to tender for the job.
A later letter to the editor suggested that the site would be the ideal place to disguise one of the new-fangled cellphone towers.
Main Road- Fergusson Drive change.
A Notice in the Upper Hutt Leader on 6 March 1968 stated "It is intended that 'Fergusson Drive' will apply to the Main Road from Silverstream Bridge to the Brown Owl via Martin Street"
Photos
Location
DescriptionUpper Hutt's main street; originally just a part of the main road from Wellington to the Wairarapa. later, the name was confined to the stretch from Pine Avenue to King Street, and the stretch west of Pine Avenue became main Road South, and Main Road North started at King Street; both of these are now incorporated in Fergusson Drive.[2] View from the eastern end
[2] View from the eastern endDetails
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Main Street, Upper Hutt, and nearby streets; town planning changes.. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 04/10/2024, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/16012