Kaffelogic general manager Dean Boston said it was on him to protect his staff but the changes to the roading layout would hit the business and the safety of the operation.
Mr Boston was shocked when he came to work yesterday morning, as were his staff, with the changes to Castle St, or State Highway 1, beside the new Dunedin hospital.
‘‘We have never been notified or consulted. How are we going to get trucks in here to load up, how are we going to get rubbish trucks in here to take away our waste?’’ he said.
He said it was a busy state highway and there was little time for trucks to stop, reverse and then drive into the business.
The road, for southbound traffic, used to have some space on the left-hand side with some carparks and places for vehicles to manoeuvre and drive into garages and parking bays. It then had two lanes in the middle of the street and a cycle lane on the right-hand side.
But work done overnight had moved things about.
There was then another lane of traffic, a cycle lane and a steel barrier to another lane immediately beside the new hospital project.
Trucks departing the new hospital site would appear to move into this adjacent lane briefly before merging into the other two lanes.
It had left those driving into businesses on the left-hand side of the road with little room to move and operate on a very busy road.
Kaffelogic make high-precision, benchtop fluid bed coffee roasters designed for both home users and commercial professionals.
It has grown quickly over the past few years and exports its products to 41 countries.
The neighbouring companies to Kaffelogic, Strawberry Sound and Castle St Panelbeaters, had both been sent letters and told of the plans, which they were comfortable with.
But Kaffelogic had been missed.
HNZ new Dunedin hospital project director Tony Lloyd said the changes to SH1 were implemented to improve traffic flow and ensure a safe environment for all road users around the construction zone.
The changes were carried out by HNZ’s construction partner, which consulted the NZ Transport Agency, the Dunedin City Council and affected users as part of the approved traffic management plan. Australian company CPB Contractors Ltd is the main construction partner in the hospital build.
‘‘Health NZ expects all users to be engaged where practical. It appears Kaffelogic may not have been included, and Health NZ is working with the contractor to understand why and ensure appropriate follow-up,’’ Mr Lloyd said.
Mr Lloyd said the proposed changes for Cumberland St, on the other side of the hospital, had been submitted to NZTA and were awaiting approval.
Once approved, the lane layout would be adjusted slightly to support safe access around the construction site.
Consultation has already taken place with affected users, he said.
