Related FAQs
Why is all parking on Onewa Road impacted?
Over the years, Onewa Road has gotten much busier. The traffic demand is high even during the off-peak and when the T3 lanes are not in operation.
Currently, vehicles can park on parts of this road off-peak, which can disrupt the traffic flow, create more delays, and increase the risk of crashes related to lane changing, reversed parking, and limited visibility for vehicles turning out of side roads.
Between 2019 and 2023, 140 crashes were reported along the road corridor. Of these, nearly half were rear-end, lane-change, and right-turning crashes where drivers were trying to get around parked cars.
Also, the T3 lanes are underused when they're not operating because drivers don't want to go through the trouble of having to slow down and navigate in and out of the lane to get around parked cars. Merging in and out can create backups and delays in the other lanes.
To resolve these issues and help people move safer and more efficiently at all times, Onewa Road needs to transition from a partial clearway to a full clearway.
Why do we need to optimise Onewa Road?
Past improvements to Onewa Road, such as adding the T3 lanes (for buses and vehicles with 3 or more passengers), have made it very efficient in moving people during peak hours.
However, it’s not as efficient off-peak, especially in the early afternoon when schools finish and on weekends. As the area continues growing, it is important Onewa Road is efficient and reliable for more people at all times of day.
The changes we’re proposing target some key pain points along the road that contribute most to delays, congestion and safety issues, even at off-peak times. By making these changes, we can ensure everyone has a smooth, efficient journey on Onewa Road no matter when they’re travelling or how they’re travelling.
How long will it take to implement all the changes?
Most of the changes can be done relatively quickly – in a few nights – with minimal disruption. We’re aiming to deliver most of the corridor improvements this year.
The upgrades to the Birkenhead Avenue/Onewa Road intersection require more investigation and planning before we can implement them. Our design plan will not likely be ready until at earliest next year.