Safe walking connections on Old Lake Road

About the project

Heads up! We’ll be improving crossing safety on Old Lake Road, near Narrow Neck Beach in 2025.

Growing communities means busier roads – so we’re working with our communities to make travelling locally safer for everyone!

Thanks to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Capital Transport Fund, the new crossing facilities will prioritise people crossing especially our tamariki, and the local community.

The changes we're making

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• Raising the zebra crossing to slow drivers on approach, ensures people crossing can be seen by motorists and makes it more comfortable for larger vehicles and their passengers.
• Upgrade the crossing islands where people can safely wait when crossing the road. This is a small section of pavement within the median strip, surrounded by concrete. It helps people crossing to safely wait for a gap in traffic (while giving way to motorists) to finish crossing the road.
• Upgrades to the existing footpath on both sides of the crossing to give more room for people to wait to cross safely
• Adjusting the slope of the kerbs and the areas where water drains to improve water flow and ensure we allow for sufficient drainage to prevent flooding.
• Install a speed cushion and upgrade pram crossings on both sides approaching the intersection of Old Lake Road and Seabreeze Road. Better pram crossings promote accessibility and safety for parents, caregivers and anyone with mobility needs. Speed cushions are small speed bumps placed in the middle of the road. Larger vehicles can pass without impact & smaller vehicles need to slow down
• Install new tactile pavers, which are yellow guidance markers to help visually impaired people find their way to the crossing and safely cross the road.
• Painting new road markings and installing signs and beacon lights so motorists know they are near a school, to slow on approach and to give priority to people crossing the road here.
• Painting no stopping at all times (broken yellow lines) on the approaches to the crossing. This clears access and prevents cars from parking near the crossing and improves sight lines.
• Installing new cycle hold rails to support cyclists when approaching the crossing. Giving more visibility time for cyclists to be seen by motorists.

Benefits to your community

• Safe crossing facilities make it easier and stress-free for you, our Tamariki and our community to move about your neighbourhood with confidence. It offers better connections to parks, public transport and other local amenities.
• Improves safety for everyone of different accessibility needs including the elderly, people with prams and wheelchairs, as the crossing is level with the footpath.
• Improves visibility by ensuring people crossing from the Narrow Neck beach can be seen by approaching motorists.
• Makes it easier for people to cross this road safely in two stages if needed and gives a safe place to wait before making the second stage to cross
• Getting around on foot is good for the environment and good for your health. It helps reduce reliance on cars for local trips, decreasing traffic congestion and reducing our carbon emissions.
• It helps ensure those with mobility needs can navigate crossings more easily.
• New road markings and signs clarify right of way, alert drivers to slow down approaching a crossing. It improves safety by minimising risk of collisions, and ensures compliance with traffic regulations
• This type of crossing makes it more comfortable for emergency services and larger vehicles including buses and their passengers.
• Safer crossings minimise risks to traffic flow and dangerous situations on the road. People crossing are prioritised so motorists will only need to stop when someone needs to cross

Impacts:

• Reallocation of road space by removing some resident parking spaces
• Construction time creating time delays from detour.

What happens next

We will install these changes in June 2025.

Any change to the plan will be updated on this page.

We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

How to contact us

We welcome you to share your thoughts with us by 15 December 2024, please email us at ATengagement@at.govt.nz