​Greys Ave reconstruction frustrating hotel guests and commuters

The overdue reconstruction of a central Auckland street has led to more complications than local businesses and commuters expected.

One side of Greys Ave, which connects Pitt Street to Mayoral Drive in central Auckland, has been blocked off to create a one-way detour, with work set to continue until the end of June.

Amora Hotel duty manager Jenny Nguyen said guests at the hotel near the top of the street are becoming frustrated with the noise, and some have said they no longer want to stay.

“They start at seven in the morning, when people are still sleeping,” said Ms Nguyen. “When they drill it feels like the whole building is shaking.”

The pavement and road reconstruction, which started on April 18, has also meant people can no longer park on the roadside.

“It’s hard for the guests to come if they’re driving,” she said. “The only entrance is from the K Road side, not from the bottom, so they have to turn around.”

Ms Nguyen said the hotel was only told about the reconstruction a few weeks ago, so the guests who made bookings months in advance couldn’t be informed.

“A few guests have come to complain that we should have told them earlier but we didn’t know this was happening,” she said.

Todd Vincent, pavement manager for Downer - the company contracted to carry out the road work - said the company had been in contact with businesses in the area since last year, and changes had been made to plans to accommodate them.

However, Mr Vincent said, “the project was meant to take place two years ago but for various reasons it didn’t take place.

“The nature of the site, and where it is, has sort of meant it’s been left in the too hard basket.”

He said the road had deteriorated and had a lot of patchwork done over the years.

Commuter Bia Lala, who regularly parks his car on the road, said it was difficult to find somewhere to park in Auckland already and even harder with the current roadworks.

“You’ve got to go to work in the morning and it’s really difficult for us, especially working in this area,” he said.

Wilson Parking attendant Anug Shah, who works on the street, said more people are having to park in paid car parks since the work started.

“More people are parking here so it’s good for business,” he said. “But it’s going to become a problem when events start happening because there won’t be anywhere for people to park.”

Mr Vincent said the road will remain one-way for the entire length of the project, and advised drivers to find alternative parking for the duration.