After nearly six years of road cones and disruption, Auckland CBD businesses have something to celebrate as the City Rail Link reaches its home stretch.
While for some businesses it means new opportunities, for others they're still counting the cost.
Lebanese Grocer on Karangahape Rd was among the businesses welcoming more hungry customers.
"Foot traffic’s increased. People seem like they actually want to come down and visit K’ Rd now. You just have to give them more reason to," Lebanese Grocer's Elie Assaf told 1News.
Across the street, roadworks were cleared just in time for shoppers in a last-minute rush for records to put under the Christmas tree.
"The mood is much better. We've had much more people coming through now that the construction's over. And yeah, everyone's just really excited for that opening day, I guess," Flying Out Records' Hunter Keane said.
The CRL is set to open in the second half of 2026.
Disruption from the CRL – along with a sluggish economy – was blamed for a spending slump on the stretch of road.
Karangahape Rd boutique Crushes recently moved to a larger store, their eyes firmly set on next year.
"I'm just so happy for the street and all the businesses that have held on because it's just going to be really special and we deserve it,” Rose Hope said.
But downtown it’s a different story.
Kebab shop Karadeniz Café on Wellesley St went up for sale yesterday.
"There's a lot of food businesses around right now, like lots of them, they closed and it's like, it's a loss. It was a year of loss," Rose Rahmati said.
The future was also uncertain for nearby florist Roma Blooms.
Owner Shobhana Ranchhodji didn't believe their concerns had been listened to.
"Having the businesses be able to operate like businesses," Ranchhodji said.
"What do we need? We need loading zones. We need safe places for people to walk."
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