Brighton Road and St Stephens Avenue - Intersection Upgrade
Consultation Outcome - November 2025
With endorsement from the Waitematā Local Board, we are proceeding with installing traffic lights and cycling infrastructure upgrades. The traffic lights will be coordinated with those on Parnell Road to help manage traffic flow.
We plan to complete the upgrade by July 2026. We will be in touch again when we have a confirmed construction start date.
Download the Engagement Summary report here
What’s changing
We originally proposed raising the intersection and installing traffic lights with pedestrian crossings on all sides of the intersection, along with cycle safety upgrades and other improvements.
Auckland Transport’s Design Standards were updated in 2024, and the design was revised. The updated plan no longer includes a raised intersection or a bus stop bicycle bypass on the southern side of St Stephens Avenue.
We’ve worked closely with stakeholders — including the Waitematā Local Board, Anglican Diocese of Auckland, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the One Saint Stephens Apartment developers — and explored other options like a roundabout. However, our assessments showed that traffic lights would better support cyclist safety and reduce congestion, particularly in the evening peaks. In response to stakeholder feedback, we have incorporated the following additional changes to the signal design that pertain to One Saint Stephens:
- Closed visor for signals: We will provide a closed/shielded visor for the traffic signals located outside the church and One Saint Stephens. The visor will manage the displayed light colour and direct the signal’s visibility solely to the approaching vehicle, minimising any potential light spill to the residents of One Saint Stephens.
- Accessible pedestrian Signals: The beeping sound will be toned down at night after 9pm to reduce potential noise disruption for the residents living at One Saint Stephens.
- Removal of speed humps on the church driveways.
- New driveway detection system on the church driveways.
- Paired crossing update: The paired crossing has been swapped on St. Stephens Avenue; the west approach now features the paired crossing, while the east approach has only the pedestrian crossing.
Download here for a larger image of the updated drawing
Project background
Everyone across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland should be able to get to where they need to and back home safely. This includes people in cars, on bikes, on foot, on scooters, or on mobility devices.
The Brighton Road and St Stephens Avenue intersection is a high-risk intersection. There were nine recorded crashes at this intersection between 2018 and 2022. The impact of these injuries on friends, Whānau and the wider community is immeasurable.
Why are changes needed
Between 2014 and 2024, there were 25 reported crashes at this intersection — 17 involved cyclists or motorcyclists, and most of those resulted in injuries. We’re making changes to help prevent serious accidents and improve safety for everyone.
Benefits and impacts
These proposed changes would:
- reduce the risk of death and serious injuries caused by motorists failing to give way
- enable people walking or cycling to cross safely at this busy intersection
- make it safer to cycle through this area
- making it easier and safer for drivers to turn into and out of Brighton Road
- increase the rate of survival in the event of an accident by encouraging slower speeds.
The proposed changes would reduce 17 on-street parking spaces on St Stephens Avenue. If people need to park here, there is parking further along on St Stephens Avenue, Corunna Avenue, and Brighton Road.
The trees outside 17 and 20 St Stephens Avenue would need to be removed to provide enough space on the footpath for people getting on and off the bus.
