Fingerpost Corner

From its earliest days, Albany was a crossroad between Northcote Point to the south, Riverhead to the west, and the main north road to Devonport and Wade (Silverdale) to the northeast. Before the extension of the Northern Motorway in the early 1990s, most northbound traffic either travelled up Albany Highway or the East Coast Road. Meanwhile, all traffic heading to the west had to pass through the village. A directional sign was placed at this corner, now the junction of Dairy Flat Highway and Library Lane.

When first envisioned, the main north road through Albany was considered a spoke of the Great North Road, which linked with the main trunk east of Coatesville. However, there was only a bridle path over the steep ridge between Birkenhead and Albany until ambitious grading crews carved out Cut Hill. Over time, the cut was widened and the grade lowered until most vehicles could pass over the hill. From Albany, the road continues northeast to the top of Pukeatua Ridge and then north. Travellers can choose to continue north to Dairy Flat and Silverdale or go west to Coatesville and Riverhead. The road east, Oteha Valley Road, links to the East Coast Road at Northcross above Browns Bay, where travellers could catch the main road south to Devonport or north to Silverdale.

Continue south along Library Lane.