Birdwood Road, Helvetia Road, and Kauri Road Intersection Safety Improvements

About the project

Safety improvements at the Birdwood Road / Helvetia Road / Kauri Road intersection, Pukekohe

1. We’re proposing safety improvements at high-risk intersections across Auckland.
2. Between 2019 and 2023, there were four injury crashes at the Birdwood Road, Helvetia Road, and Kauri Road intersection. Last year, there was another crash that resulted in minor injuries.
3. The analysis showed these crashes often involved drivers approaching the intersection too quickly and losing control or failing to give way.
4. In response, we’re proposing upgrades at this intersection to encourage motorists to slow down, improve driver awareness and to make it safer for everyone.

What we’re planning to do before June 2027

To make it safer and easier for everyone to get around and to encourage more appropriate speeds, we’re planning a set of improvements on the approaches to Birdwood Road, Helvetia Road and Kauri Road. These include:

• A new pedestrian refuge island outside 128 Helvetia Road, with tactile pavers and lowered kerb crossing for people with prams, wheelchairs, or mobility aids.
• A new side traffic island and flush road markings on the Birdwood Road approach to help drivers see the intersection more clearly.
• New ‘SLOW’ road marking and ‘50 Pukekohe’ sign on Helvetia Road to remind drivers to keep to a safe speed as they enter the area.
• Reconstruct footpaths to support the new layout and ensure accessible pedestrian connections.
• New broken yellow lines to formalise parking restrictions in accordance with safety requirements.
• Five on-street parking spaces will be removed on Helvetia Road (south approach) to meet visibility requirements for the new pedestrian refuge islands. This change will help make crossing the road safer for everyone.

You can view the proposed layout in the attached plans.

How this will benefit your neighbourhood

These improvements aim to reduce the likelihood of crashes and create a safer, more predictable intersection for everyone. Benefits include:

• Reduced likelihood of loss of control and failure to give way crashes.
• Safer and easier to cross Helvetia Road.
• A clearer and safer road layout for the community.

What happens next

We want to hear your feedback on:

• Any local knowledge or observations that may help refine the design
• Any operational considerations we should be aware of
• Suggestions that could improve the final layout or construction approach

How to provide feedback

Email us at engagementfeedback@johnstaff.co.nz. Please use “Birdwood–Helvetia–Kauri Intersection” in the subject line.

We would love to hear your feedback until 22 June 2026.