Safer connections into Blockhouse Bay

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About the project 

We’re improving safety at the Blockhouse Bay Road and Gilfillan Street intersection. Proposed upgrades include raised crossings, speed humps, new signs, tactile pavers, and other speed reduction measures to improve safety.

Our mahi includes relocating bus break stops into the centre of the village to improve visibility going into the village area. 

Why are these changes needed  

Focus area 1 - Blockhouse Bay Road and Gilfillian Street intersection  

At this busy triangle intersection, a bus layover and bus shelter are close to a primary school, a nearby playcentre, and a superette. A tight right-turning bus departing the bus shelter outside the primary school travelling south requires a tight turning manoeuvre into the bus layover. If a bus is parked at the layover (yellow), the turning bus requires a three-point turn, which requires reversing into oncoming traffic on Blockhouse Bay Road. 

During peak periods, the bus needs to turn left from Gilfillan Street onto Blockhouse Bay Road through the intersection. This is unsafe from multiple angles, so road works are required to provide a safe manoeuvre area for cars and buses and reduce approaching vehicle speeds through all entries of the intersection.

Focus area 2 - Bus Break Stop

AT buses travel through the village centre and have several terminating stop locations. To facilitate the first project focus of removing the bus stop at the intersection and simplifying terminating bus stops in town, the project requires additional bus stops (layovers) in the village centre. For PT customer convenience, more layover locations are needed for bus driver breaks and toilet facilities on Figure 2. 

This relocation will require removing several car parks on Blockhouse Bay Road, impacting businesses and public parking options close to amenities. Several alternative parking spots are currently available behind the library, which need to be highlighted for less disruption to the public.

Focus area 3 - Blockhouse Bay Road and Gilfillian Street intersection  

At the highlighted intersection, crossings are a safety concern to the project team. With several entry and exits blocked by frequent turning vehicles, safety mitigations and speed reduction tools are required to provide safe crossing options, especially for safe walking routes to the schools and stores nearby within the town centre. 

The project team have proposed installing raised crossings, new road markings and signs, on both Blockhouse Bay Road and across Gilfillan Street. This will help children walk to school from nearby parks, during peak traffic periods at the intersection. 


What we are consulting on

The project team have investigated the Blockhouse Bay Road & Gilfillan Street intersection and propose the following: 

  • Raising the zebra crossing with footpath level outside Pioneers Mini Mart
  • Installing new signs highlighting access throughout the intersection
  • Installing new belisha discs to warn drivers theyre nearing a crossing (amber coloured disc on top of black and white poles to alert drivers) and tactile pavers (textured ground surface) to warn to warn anyone on foot who is visually impaired that a danger or crossing is approaching. This is at both ends of the raised crossing – clearly highlighting the crossing at distance. 
  • Construction works to improve the footpath, with new tactile pavers installed over the road and the footpath. 
  • Marking new no stopping at all times zones (broken yellow lines) to be painted on both sides of the raised crossings. 
  • Upgrade the existing triangle road markings at the Blockhouse Bay Road & Gilfillan Street intersection, by installing a mountable roundabout and traffic island. 
  • Remove the existing bus layover road markings with no stopping at all times zones (broken yellow lines ) 

On Gilfillan Street, the proposed changes consist of: 

  • Installing a new speed hump at the entry/exit points of Gilfillan Street 
  • Reconstructing the footpath and installing tactile pavers for crossing entries.
  • Move the Bus Stop ID: 8584 and its shelter outside Blockhouse Bay Primary School to 3 Gilfillan Street. We will need to reallocate road space for These safety improvements (four parking spaces).

On Blockhouse Bay Road at the centre of town, the project team propose: 

  • Moving the mobility parking space outside 568-570 Blockhouse Bay Road earlier up the street, prior to the public toilets for bus parking access routes, and shifting the mobility parking signage earlier on the road.
  • Install two bus break stops outside the public toilets next to the Block Café. Toilet facilities in near proximity of the bus layovers enable bus drivers to take necessary breaks without departure delays or impacts to public transport schedules.
  • Install new signage to ensure only buses park at the stops at all times.
  • Install no stopping at all times zones (broken yellow lines) for bus manoeuvring between bus parks and nearby carparks.
  • We will need to reallocate road space (5 parking spaces) on the eastern side and one on the western side of Blockhouse Bay Road. These measures will ensure visibility for the buses to turn into and away from the bus layovers safely. 


How this will affect the community  

Bus services and no. of passengers affected by these changes

  • Shifting the bus shelter/stop outside 3 Gilfillan Street will result in a slightly longer walk for passengers of bus services 195 and 209 coming into the town centre.
  • This will affect around 150 people a day. 
  • Passengers transferring from the 253/25B will need to disembark at the stop outside Countdown and catch their next 195 and 209 bus from Stop C outside the Community Centre. This will be disruptive to around 12 passengers per day.

The benefits include     

  • Getting around on foot and via scooter will be safer and easier so everyone can enjoy the town centre. 
  • It will give enough time for drivers turning left from Gilfillan Street, to see people using the crossing, and it will give more space for vehicles to wait at the intersection. 
  • A new speed hump on Gilfillan Street will reduce vehicle speeds nearby the school entry. 
  • Removing the bus break stop at the intersection avoids a dangerous three-point turn into the oncoming traffic. 
  • Improved visibility for drivers going into the town centre. 
  • Better bus reliability with bus break stops nearby break facilities. 
  • Closer break facilities for bus driver wellbeing

How you can have your say 

This consultation is now closed. We want to thank everyone who participated in the 2023 consultation for their feedback. 

About the project 

We’re improving safety at the Blockhouse Bay Road and Gilfillan Street intersection. Proposed upgrades include raised crossings, speed humps, new signs, tactile pavers, and other speed reduction measures to improve safety.

Our mahi includes relocating bus break stops into the centre of the village to improve visibility going into the village area. 

Why are these changes needed  

Focus area 1 - Blockhouse Bay Road and Gilfillian Street intersection  

At this busy triangle intersection, a bus layover and bus shelter are close to a primary school, a nearby playcentre, and a superette. A tight right-turning bus departing the bus shelter outside the primary school travelling south requires a tight turning manoeuvre into the bus layover. If a bus is parked at the layover (yellow), the turning bus requires a three-point turn, which requires reversing into oncoming traffic on Blockhouse Bay Road. 

During peak periods, the bus needs to turn left from Gilfillan Street onto Blockhouse Bay Road through the intersection. This is unsafe from multiple angles, so road works are required to provide a safe manoeuvre area for cars and buses and reduce approaching vehicle speeds through all entries of the intersection.

Focus area 2 - Bus Break Stop

AT buses travel through the village centre and have several terminating stop locations. To facilitate the first project focus of removing the bus stop at the intersection and simplifying terminating bus stops in town, the project requires additional bus stops (layovers) in the village centre. For PT customer convenience, more layover locations are needed for bus driver breaks and toilet facilities on Figure 2. 

This relocation will require removing several car parks on Blockhouse Bay Road, impacting businesses and public parking options close to amenities. Several alternative parking spots are currently available behind the library, which need to be highlighted for less disruption to the public.

Focus area 3 - Blockhouse Bay Road and Gilfillian Street intersection  

At the highlighted intersection, crossings are a safety concern to the project team. With several entry and exits blocked by frequent turning vehicles, safety mitigations and speed reduction tools are required to provide safe crossing options, especially for safe walking routes to the schools and stores nearby within the town centre. 

The project team have proposed installing raised crossings, new road markings and signs, on both Blockhouse Bay Road and across Gilfillan Street. This will help children walk to school from nearby parks, during peak traffic periods at the intersection. 


What we are consulting on

The project team have investigated the Blockhouse Bay Road & Gilfillan Street intersection and propose the following: 

  • Raising the zebra crossing with footpath level outside Pioneers Mini Mart
  • Installing new signs highlighting access throughout the intersection
  • Installing new belisha discs to warn drivers theyre nearing a crossing (amber coloured disc on top of black and white poles to alert drivers) and tactile pavers (textured ground surface) to warn to warn anyone on foot who is visually impaired that a danger or crossing is approaching. This is at both ends of the raised crossing – clearly highlighting the crossing at distance. 
  • Construction works to improve the footpath, with new tactile pavers installed over the road and the footpath. 
  • Marking new no stopping at all times zones (broken yellow lines) to be painted on both sides of the raised crossings. 
  • Upgrade the existing triangle road markings at the Blockhouse Bay Road & Gilfillan Street intersection, by installing a mountable roundabout and traffic island. 
  • Remove the existing bus layover road markings with no stopping at all times zones (broken yellow lines ) 

On Gilfillan Street, the proposed changes consist of: 

  • Installing a new speed hump at the entry/exit points of Gilfillan Street 
  • Reconstructing the footpath and installing tactile pavers for crossing entries.
  • Move the Bus Stop ID: 8584 and its shelter outside Blockhouse Bay Primary School to 3 Gilfillan Street. We will need to reallocate road space for These safety improvements (four parking spaces).

On Blockhouse Bay Road at the centre of town, the project team propose: 

  • Moving the mobility parking space outside 568-570 Blockhouse Bay Road earlier up the street, prior to the public toilets for bus parking access routes, and shifting the mobility parking signage earlier on the road.
  • Install two bus break stops outside the public toilets next to the Block Café. Toilet facilities in near proximity of the bus layovers enable bus drivers to take necessary breaks without departure delays or impacts to public transport schedules.
  • Install new signage to ensure only buses park at the stops at all times.
  • Install no stopping at all times zones (broken yellow lines) for bus manoeuvring between bus parks and nearby carparks.
  • We will need to reallocate road space (5 parking spaces) on the eastern side and one on the western side of Blockhouse Bay Road. These measures will ensure visibility for the buses to turn into and away from the bus layovers safely. 


How this will affect the community  

Bus services and no. of passengers affected by these changes

  • Shifting the bus shelter/stop outside 3 Gilfillan Street will result in a slightly longer walk for passengers of bus services 195 and 209 coming into the town centre.
  • This will affect around 150 people a day. 
  • Passengers transferring from the 253/25B will need to disembark at the stop outside Countdown and catch their next 195 and 209 bus from Stop C outside the Community Centre. This will be disruptive to around 12 passengers per day.

The benefits include     

  • Getting around on foot and via scooter will be safer and easier so everyone can enjoy the town centre. 
  • It will give enough time for drivers turning left from Gilfillan Street, to see people using the crossing, and it will give more space for vehicles to wait at the intersection. 
  • A new speed hump on Gilfillan Street will reduce vehicle speeds nearby the school entry. 
  • Removing the bus break stop at the intersection avoids a dangerous three-point turn into the oncoming traffic. 
  • Improved visibility for drivers going into the town centre. 
  • Better bus reliability with bus break stops nearby break facilities. 
  • Closer break facilities for bus driver wellbeing

How you can have your say 

This consultation is now closed. We want to thank everyone who participated in the 2023 consultation for their feedback.