Late night construction in Auckland causes safety concerns and disrupts local businesses

Late night construction work around Auckland’s Karangahape Road has left business owners frustrated and concerned for the safety of their customers. Carlo Buenaventura, owner of Bar Magda on Cross Street, was shocked to find concrete drilling taking place right outside his restaurant’s door on Monday night as patrons were coming in and out.

Despite being informed of scheduled work between Sunday and Tuesday, Buenaventura said the construction continued without any safety precautions well past the agreed-upon hours. Photos taken that night show customers stepping over broken concrete while heavy machinery operated on the footpath.

The disruption caused by the construction work has had a significant impact on Bar Magda’s business, with some customers being put off by the noise and lack of signage indicating that the bar was still open. Buenaventura expressed frustration with the lack of communication and organization from City Rail Link and Vector, stating that the ongoing construction has been poorly managed and disruptive.

In response to the incident, Vector has temporarily stood down the contracting staff involved in the work and will be conducting a full investigation. Buenaventura hopes that better communication and planning will be implemented in the future to minimize the impact on businesses in the area.

Overall, the construction disruption in the Karangahape Road area has been a source of ongoing frustration for business owners like Buenaventura, who are struggling to navigate the challenges posed by the construction work while trying to maintain their operations and serve their customers.