Frequently asked questions

No. While the two projects are part of the same programme, they are separate projects with different objectives. The Onewa Road corridor project is meant to help improve travel along Onewa Road for everyone – no matter where, when or how they’re travelling. The changes we’re proposing under this project are meant to address congestion issues specific to the Birkenhead Avenue intersection, especially for people travelling through here during the morning rush. That said, the two projects do benefit each other, and combined, they will improve overall traffic flow for the thousands who travel this part of the North Shore.

No. The operating hours for both T3 lanes on Birkenhead Avenue north and Onewa Road (going towards the motorway) are currently 6:30am to 10am, Monday-Friday. These hours will stay the same after we’ve completed the changes and connected both T3 lanes. The T3 entry lanes on Birkenhead Avenue south and Highbury Bypass will also follow these operating hours.

Enforcement will start in the new lanes shortly after we complete construction. The best way to not get fined is to avoid driving in the T3 lanes when they’re operating – which is 6:30am-10am, M-F – if you don’t have 3 or more people in your car. 

If you are driving from Highbury Bypass or from Birkenhead Avenue south and you don’t have 3 or more people in your car, avoid queuing in the T3 entry lanes when they’re operating. Instead, queue in the lanes next to them. 

Outside of operating hours, any vehicle can use a T3 lane. You may also use a T3 for up to 50 metres (about 10 mid-sized car lengths) to turn into a driveway or side street. 

The only pedestrian crossing point that will be impacted by the road lane changes is the crossing to slip island on the intersection’s northeast side. The double left-turn lane will make the crossing distance here longer. To make sure it stays safe for pedestrians, we’re upgrading it from a zebra crossing to a traffic light-controlled signalised crossing. With this change, the turning traffic will be fully stopped when pedestrians are crossing here. 

Also, the new slip island we’re building will have same amount of standing room as the current island, and it will include ramps for people with mobility needs and yellow tactile pavers with slip-resistant paint for blind and low-vision pedestrians. 

Altogether, these changes will help ensure the level of safety and service at this crossing stays the same for pedestrians of all ages and abilities. 

The smart technology works by using special overhead cameras we’ll be installing at the intersection. These cameras collect more accurate, real-time data on vehicle queue lengths and pedestrian/cyclist numbers on all sides. 

If they see congestion building up on one side, they’ll immediately signal the traffic lights to give extra green time for vehicles to move. If they see a large crowd of pedestrians/cyclists waiting to cross, they’ll signal the lights to give them more time to cross. 

Simply put, smart technology helps ensure everyone, whether by car, bike or foot, moves quickly and smoothly through this intersection no matter how busy it gets.

Check out this video to learn more about how smart technology works:

We do not have any changes specifically for cyclists with this project, but some changes, such as the smart traffic light technology and upgrades to pedestrian crossing areas, may also benefit cyclists. We welcome cyclists to share their insights and experiences at this intersection to see if there’s anything else we could do to help your journey here, now or in the future.

We expect the changes could take about four months to implement. Works would be done at nighttime to avoid major disruption. Currently, we expect construction will start in the second half of 2026 or early 2027. We will have a better idea of the timeframe and work plan closer to construction time. We’ll communicate the plan well before we start.

Removing all the slip islands was one of the first options we looked at. But we found that, due to the high traffic volumes and the current road space available, removing all the slip islands and lanes would actually make congestion much worse. For it to work, we’d need to acquire more land to make the whole intersection larger, which would be too costly and time consuming to bring people immediate relief. So, we’ve ruled out this option for now. However, we’re still keeping it open as we consider long-term plans for the intersection and the wider road network.