Safety and reliability of Southern Motorway to improve
Published: 21 October 2015
Southern Motorway heading towards Takanini Source: Our Auckland, Auckland Council
Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Mayor Len Brown on October 21 turned the first sod on the Southern Corridor Improvements project, marking the start of construction on the second of four government accelerated transport projects for the Auckland region.
The NZ Transport Agency’s $268 million project extends from Manukau to Papakura along State Highway 1 and will improve safety and journey reliability on Auckland’s Southern Motorway.
Leighton Contractors will start establishment work from November with construction beginning in February.
Project completion is expected in 2018. However, extra southbound lanes will be completed in early 2017 to coincide with the opening of the Waterview tunnel and ensure there’s capacity for additional traffic entering SH1 from SH20.
NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland Highways Manager, Brett Gliddon, says the project is a critical piece of the network which supports current investment in the Western Ring Route and the regional connections south of Auckland.
“The Southern Corridor is a key route connecting Auckland to the rest of the country. The project will support the rapid population growth that is expected in south Auckland over the next 30 years, while meeting the immediate needs of the city.”
Walking and cycling improvements will also form a key part of the project.
Environmental benefits include low impact and sustainable stormwater treatment methods, salt marsh restoration at the Pahurehure Inlet and significant planting to incorporate eco-sourced indigenous species.
The Southern Corridor Improvements project includes:
• Southbound widening – to 4 lanes between SH20 and Hill Road and to 3 lanes between Hill Road and Papakura
• Northbound widening – to 3 lanes from Papakura to Takanini
• Takanini Interchange upgrade
• Upgrade of 16 existing bridges and construction of six new structures
• A new 4.5km walking and cycleway
• New LED lighting
Excellent to have this much needed project under way with it due for completion by 2018. As a regular user of the Takanini Interchange I know it is a dog and a safety hazard when attempting to enter the motorway city bound. Thus having the upgrade done will at least make that part of the journey better.
Work on widening the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Papakura is about to begin.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges will mark the start of construction on October 21 by turning the first sod near Pescara Point Reserve in Karaka.
The Southern Corridor Improvements project will see lanes added from the SH20-SH1 interchange at Manukau south to Papakura and north from Papakura to Takanini.
The Takanini interchange will also be redesigned to improve safety and access to the motorway. It will include a freight lane and new ramps.
The Government earmarked $210 million in the 2014 budget for the project.
Just under a year to the Local Elections Let’s Talk Starting Transport Recently Transport Blog ran a piece called For Auckland Election candidates – Part 1: Transport Trends. They have … Continue reading #Auckland2016 #1 – Transport
Improvements to local roads on the cards, and berm planting policy being deliberated
The October agenda for the Manurewa Local Board is out and you can read the web version of it HERE.
Of note is the Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines, and the latest updates on local transport projects (which are better advancing than a certain Interchange further north).
This on transport updates in the Manurewa Local Board area:
Manurewa Local Board – 08 October 2015
Auckland Transport Update – October 2015
File No.: CP2015/20369
Purpose
This report provides an update on local transport matters over the last month for the Manurewa Local Board (MLB).
Executive Summary
This report contains a general monthly update on transport matters both locally and from across Auckland and a list of issues currently being addressed by Auckland Transport for Manurewa Local Board.
Recommendation/s
That the Manurewa Local Board:
a) receive the report entitled “Auckland Transport Update – October 2015”.
Responding to Resolutions
Auckland Transport’s response to resolutions that require a specific answer, made by the MLB at previous meetings.
Resolution number MR/2015/138
That the Manurewa Local Board thank Rua Taniwha for his presentation regarding:
a) the petition requesting traffic calming measures in Sykes Road and supporting the Auckland Transport initiatives in relation to traffic in Sykes Road.
b) request the petition with the following prayer be forwarded to Auckland Transport for action, noting that Auckland Transport is currently consulting with the public for feedback on a proposal to install traffic calming measures in Sykes Road, Manurewa:
c) Petition prayer:
“We, the undersigned, petition Council to consider the need to install speed bumps (or similar) to help control the speed of traffic along the southern end of Sykes Road Manurewa.”
d) request a timeframe date for the completion of the kerb and channelling on Sykes Road near the Aquatic Centre
e) request Auckland Transport investigate the possibility of a roundabout be installed at the Sykes Road / Mahia Road intersection.
Last month Auckland Transport was able to provide answers for sub-paras a, b, c and e of this resolution.
Sub-para d) was not responded too so a response is provided this month. At this time there are no plans to install kerb and channel on Sykes Road near the Aquatic Centre.
Resolution number MR/2015/138
b) That the Manurewa Local Board request Auckland Transport investigate the installation of pedestrian crossings outside Reremoana School on Scotsmoor Drive and Hadley Wood Drive, Wattle Downs.
This resolution has been forwarded to the Road Corridor Operations Team who will investigate the request and provide a report. The aim is to be able to report formally next month.
Discussion
Berm Planting Policy
Auckland Transport has written a draft document setting out how planting in the road berm might be managed. This draft has been circulated to the Local Board looking for feedback.
It was circulated to the members of the Manurewa Local Board on 27 August 2015.
Auckland Transport officers attended a workshop with the Manurewa Local Board on 17 September 2015 and discussed the policy.
Manurewa Local Board members raised a number of points and have made a ‘Board’ submission.
Public Transport Update – Manukau Bus/Rail Interchange
The recently completed Regional Land Transport Programme included funding for an expansion of the public transport services provided at Manukau. Auckland Transport now has confirmed budget to build the planned bus interchange in this location.
The new bus interchange will be located between the existing train station which is under the Manukau Institute of Technology building (shown in Fig 1) and the Auckland Council Civic Centre (as shown in Fig 2).
……
You can see more on the Manukau Interchange latest HERE.
The new bus interchange will provide:
A covered area for bus passengers to alight and dismount buses;
A covered ‘pathway’ for passengers moving to the civic centre and the mall; and
An essential cross over point for people in the South to transfer from buses to trains.
Manukau Station has approx. 1200 passenger movements per day and trains currently run from Manukau to Britonmart and ‘vice versa’ at intervals of approx. 20 minutes.
When the ‘New Southern Network’ is operational in 2016 this station will be a significant ‘hub’ easily accessible to people throughout the Manurewa Local Board area. Thanks to effective advocacy by the Manurewa Local Board this interchange has been included within a ‘transition zone’ meaning that people travelling from Manurewa will only pay for one fare ‘stage’ to get to this station when the new ‘Simplified Fares’ for public transport start.
Public Transport Update – First Part of the ‘New Network’ Starts Operation
The first part of the ‘New Network’ starts operating on 18 October 2015. The first routes are on the Hibiscus Coast.
In South Auckland the tender process is currently underway and the ‘New Network’ is planned to be operating in South Auckland by mid-2016. This corresponds with the planned completion dates of the Manukau and Otahuhu Bus/Rail interchanges.
The ‘New Network’s objective is to use frequent local bus services to get passengers to rail stations from which large numbers of people can be moved north or south. By using bus and rail services in an integrated manner efficiency is maximised.
Within Manurewa the ‘New Network’ will mean more frequent and reliable bus services east/west and around the Local Board area that should make it easier for people to get them to key local rail hubs Manurewa and Manukau.
Great South Road Corridor Management Plans (CMPs)
A CMP is a conceptual plan that outlines the types of planning that may be needed to manage transport along a corridor, so that agencies can start planning budgets and work programmes in a coordinated way as early as possible.
CMPs are not detailed but are strategic documents designed to provide a 30 year framework for all agencies working to maintain and improve transport along broad ‘corridors’.
Auckland Transport has been undertaking a refresh of the CMP for Great South Road in the Takanini area to take account of the works at the Takanini Interchange undertaken by NZTA and the planned rate of growth in South Auckland. On 17 September 2015 Auckland Transport staff met with the Manurewa Local Board and discussed the CMP.
Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF):
MLB has a total pool of $2,392,297 available in this electoral term that can be spent on transport projects.
In this electoral term the MLB has identified six projects that are being investigated. Details of the projects and their status are included in Attachment A.
Significant progress has been made in the last month. Most importantly initial timelines are starting to be developed and are included in ‘Table 1’ below.
Table 1 – Major Project Estimated Timelines
Project
Arts and Plants
Great South Road
Covered Walkway
Kirton / Williams Traffic Calming
October 2015
Finalise detailed design
Finalise detailed design
Finalise detailed design
November 2015
Finalise detailed design
Mid-November – public consultation
Procure contractor and start work
Planned to be completed by June 2016
Public consultation
December 2015
Public consultation
Finalise changes from public consultation
Finalise changes from public consultation
January 2016
Finalise changes from public consultation
Prepare information about changes to road layout for Traffic Control Committee
Prepare information about changes to road layout for Traffic Control Committee
February 2016
Prepare information about changes to road layout for Traffic Control Committee
Submit to Traffic Control Committee
Submit to Traffic Control Committee
March 2016
Submit to Traffic Control Committee
Procure contractor and start work
Procure contractor and start work
April 2016
May 2016
Procure contractor and start work
June 2016
Note: The timeframes indicated are’projected’ as the projects advance there will be changes to them.
Table 1 clearly demonstrates the tight timeframes required to be met by projects aiming to be delivered by June 2016. It also highlights the difference in time required when a project needs to undertake a public consultation. The ‘Covered Walkway’ project for instance should advance quickly because there is not a requirement for widespread public discussion.
Progress has also been made in the following areas:
The project to upgrade Wiri Station Road is working through procurement;
An initial plan is available for the Williams Ave/Kirton Cres Traffic Calming project and is included as Attachment C.
An initial plan is available for the ‘Arts and Plants’ project and is included as Attachment D.
The plan for the ‘Great South Road Pedestrianisation’ project was not available for attachment to this report but should be able to be circulated by email to all members before the October 2015 meeting.
Source: Manurewa Local Board – October, 2015 Agenda
(Keep it simple) Bus Station. While this one is quiet with only a single route serving it, the stations can serve up to 8-10 routes allowing transfers between each one at the station.
On Berm Planting:
Manurewa Local Board Feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines
File No.: CP2015/20612
Purpose
Attaching the Manurewa Local Board feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines.
Executive Summary
Auckland Transport has developed guidelines for berm planting. Feedback is being sought from local boards.
The Manurewa Local Board received a briefing on the berm planting guidelines at a workshop held on 17 September 2015. At the workshop the board requested that Members Bailey and Hawkins further develop the board’s feedback at the Transport portfolio.
The attached document was circulated to members for comment.
Recommendation/s
That the Manurewa Local Board:
a) note the feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines.
