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Great North Road Dynamic Bus Lane Congestion Improvements

About the project

We’re looking at ways to improve traffic congestion on Great North Road between Blockhouse Bay Rd and State Highway 16 in the morning peak to improve overall traffic delays as well as reliability and journey times for buses.


What we are proposing

We are proposing to add a dynamic lane to the northbound section of Great North Road between Blockhouse Bay Rd and SH16 through Waterview (approximately 950m).

Dynamic lane during morning peak:


A dynamic lane allows for lanes to have different uses at different times. This dynamic lane will operate northbound toward the motorway during the morning peak (6am-10am) and will repurpose the flush median in the middle of the road, to allow for an extra bus lane in the mornings.

There will still be two general traffic lanes each way. However, to allow for the extra bus lane, there will be no right turn into and out of roads that don’t have traffic lights.


Why we are proposing it

General traffic travel times are up to 3 times longer in peak traffic along this stretch of Great North Rd compared to off peak (increasing from 2.5 minutes up to 6.5 minutes), which means buses are also experiencing this delay and struggling to stick to their timetables throughout the bus route.

Dynamic lanes are a smart solution to getting more efficiency and benefit out of roads for a lower cost, without having to build more roads or widen them.


Where the lane will be implemented (in the mornings, travelling northbound to State Highway 16/20 only):



Benefits of this proposal

  • Dynamic lanes have been successfully implemented on Whangaparaoa Rd & Redoubt Rd.
  • Improved traffic congestion for all road users.
  • Buses will be more reliable, and journey times will be shorter.
  • A new safe signalized pedestrian crossing in the middle of the block between Fairlands Avenue and Blockhouse Bay Rd.


Impacts of this proposal

  • No parking will be removed.
  • The flush median will become an additional general vehicle lane, which means that to turn right into (or out of) Oakley Avenue, Alverston Street or Fairlands Avenue between 6am and 10am, you will need to travel one block further to Fir St, Alford St or Herdman St which have traffic lights and turning lanes.
  • Two pedestrian crossing islands will be removed.
  • Seven gantries will be installed along Great North Rd, two of these will be adjacent to residential properties, however they will be combined with existing streetlights for minimal impact.
  • There will be construction from June 2024 to February 2025.


How right hand turns will be affected (during morning peak only):


What we want your feedback on

We would like to know how you use this stretch of Great North Road, how this project may impact you, and anything you think we need to know to ensure the best possible design outcome for all road users. This includes local communities, businesses, bus passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, freight and private vehicle users.


Possible Southbound extension

Early feedback and traffic analysis has suggested there may be benefits to also implementing a dynamic bus lane in the opposite direction (southbound) during the evening peak. This would potentially mean that to turn right into (or out of) Alverston Street, Alford St, Oakley Ave or Herdman St during the evening peak, you will need to travel to Fir St, which has traffic lights and turning lanes. Download the document "GNR Consultation Drawing - Possible Future Southbound Extension" from the list on the right (or bottom on mobile) of this page to see this detail on a map.

If you think it would be beneficial to add a dynamic bus lane in the evening peak, please let us know in the survey below as we may then consider scoping and delivering that change at the same time. If we do bring that project forward, we will make sure to update you on any changes in advance.


How you can have your say

Have your say by completing the online feedback form. The form will be open from 22 November 2023 to 12 January 2024.

You can also speak to our team at a drop-in session at the Avondale Community centre on 30 November 2023 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.


What happens next

  1. We will publish a summary of submissions and key feedback themes, considering all feedback as we finalise the dynamic lane design and plan works.
  2. We will notify you of the final design and keep residents informed about construction.
  3. We will also make every effort to minimise disruption during construction and provide you with contact details of the local project team should you have any issues or concerns.

About the project

We’re looking at ways to improve traffic congestion on Great North Road between Blockhouse Bay Rd and State Highway 16 in the morning peak to improve overall traffic delays as well as reliability and journey times for buses.


What we are proposing

We are proposing to add a dynamic lane to the northbound section of Great North Road between Blockhouse Bay Rd and SH16 through Waterview (approximately 950m).

Dynamic lane during morning peak:


A dynamic lane allows for lanes to have different uses at different times. This dynamic lane will operate northbound toward the motorway during the morning peak (6am-10am) and will repurpose the flush median in the middle of the road, to allow for an extra bus lane in the mornings.

There will still be two general traffic lanes each way. However, to allow for the extra bus lane, there will be no right turn into and out of roads that don’t have traffic lights.


Why we are proposing it

General traffic travel times are up to 3 times longer in peak traffic along this stretch of Great North Rd compared to off peak (increasing from 2.5 minutes up to 6.5 minutes), which means buses are also experiencing this delay and struggling to stick to their timetables throughout the bus route.

Dynamic lanes are a smart solution to getting more efficiency and benefit out of roads for a lower cost, without having to build more roads or widen them.


Where the lane will be implemented (in the mornings, travelling northbound to State Highway 16/20 only):



Benefits of this proposal

  • Dynamic lanes have been successfully implemented on Whangaparaoa Rd & Redoubt Rd.
  • Improved traffic congestion for all road users.
  • Buses will be more reliable, and journey times will be shorter.
  • A new safe signalized pedestrian crossing in the middle of the block between Fairlands Avenue and Blockhouse Bay Rd.


Impacts of this proposal

  • No parking will be removed.
  • The flush median will become an additional general vehicle lane, which means that to turn right into (or out of) Oakley Avenue, Alverston Street or Fairlands Avenue between 6am and 10am, you will need to travel one block further to Fir St, Alford St or Herdman St which have traffic lights and turning lanes.
  • Two pedestrian crossing islands will be removed.
  • Seven gantries will be installed along Great North Rd, two of these will be adjacent to residential properties, however they will be combined with existing streetlights for minimal impact.
  • There will be construction from June 2024 to February 2025.


How right hand turns will be affected (during morning peak only):


What we want your feedback on

We would like to know how you use this stretch of Great North Road, how this project may impact you, and anything you think we need to know to ensure the best possible design outcome for all road users. This includes local communities, businesses, bus passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, freight and private vehicle users.


Possible Southbound extension

Early feedback and traffic analysis has suggested there may be benefits to also implementing a dynamic bus lane in the opposite direction (southbound) during the evening peak. This would potentially mean that to turn right into (or out of) Alverston Street, Alford St, Oakley Ave or Herdman St during the evening peak, you will need to travel to Fir St, which has traffic lights and turning lanes. Download the document "GNR Consultation Drawing - Possible Future Southbound Extension" from the list on the right (or bottom on mobile) of this page to see this detail on a map.

If you think it would be beneficial to add a dynamic bus lane in the evening peak, please let us know in the survey below as we may then consider scoping and delivering that change at the same time. If we do bring that project forward, we will make sure to update you on any changes in advance.


How you can have your say

Have your say by completing the online feedback form. The form will be open from 22 November 2023 to 12 January 2024.

You can also speak to our team at a drop-in session at the Avondale Community centre on 30 November 2023 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.


What happens next

  1. We will publish a summary of submissions and key feedback themes, considering all feedback as we finalise the dynamic lane design and plan works.
  2. We will notify you of the final design and keep residents informed about construction.
  3. We will also make every effort to minimise disruption during construction and provide you with contact details of the local project team should you have any issues or concerns.
Page last updated: 27 Feb 2024, 04:18 PM