About the project

Located in the central part of Northcote, the intersection of Pupuke Road, Raleigh Road, and Ocean View Road is a key connector of people in Northcote to places in the wider North Shore. Many commercial vehicles also travel through the intersection to transport goods and services as well as three bus routes that connect to destinations in Hillcrest, Sunnybrae, and the Akoranga Bus Station.

Google Maps overview of the Pupuke Road, Raleigh Road, and Ocean View Road intersection

Growing communities mean a busier intersection

As Northcote and the surrounding neighbourhoods have grown, so have the number of travellers through the intersection.

According to recent traffic studies we’ve done of the area, between 1,400 and 1,500 vehicles travel through the intersection during the weekday morning, evening, and Saturday noon peak traffic hours. During these times, the delays getting through the intersection can be as long as two and half minutes.

Future planned housing developments are projected to increase the number of vehicles travelling at peak times to between 1,700 and 1,800 (a 22%-26% increase) in the next five years. Without upgrades to manage traffic flow and accommodate these new travellers, delays at peak times could be anywhere between three and half minutes to 26 minutes.

These kinds of delays would significantly reduce efficiency of traffic movement, the quality of life for the residents living near the intersection, and the reliability of the neighbourhood bus services.

Improvements are needed to keep the intersection safe to drive

Delays are highest at the intersection for drivers trying to turn from Ocean View Road on to the connecting roads and for drivers turning right on to Ocean View Road from Raleigh Road.

Drivers from these sides often have trouble finding safe gaps to turn through fast-moving traffic coming from opposite directions. At peak times, when many more vehicles are passing through, it becomes even harder, especially if the vehicle trying to turn is a bus or other heavy vehicle that needs more room to move.

Seeing the approach to the intersection from Ocean View Road with Google Street View helps show some of the visibility issues drivers experience trying to turn (click the square icon at the top right corner for a full-screen view). 

As the number of vehicles travelling through increases in the coming years, if no improvements are made, the issues for drivers trying to turn on and from Ocean View Road will exacerbate. Longer delays could lead to riskier behaviour as drivers try to keep time, creating a less safe environment for both travellers and residents.

We also want to improve the intersection for people who walk

Dedicated crossing facilities at busy intersections make it safer for older people and people with limited mobility to cross.

The intersection does not currently have crossing facilities for people who walk or use a wheelchair. Those wanting to cross any side of the intersection either have to walk several metres out of their way and use the available crossings further up and down the connecting roads, or they have to rush across three lanes of busy traffic. Many who live near the intersection have limited mobility and accessibility needs. Crossing can be especially challenging for these groups.

We have a plan to upgrade this intersection

Because of the above factors and feedback from residents, Kaipātiki Local Board has prioritised the Pupuke Road-Ocean View Road-Raleigh Road intersection for upgrades with funding by its Local Board Transport Capital Fund.

After thoroughly evaluating the intersection, we’ve developed a plan that will address safety, traffic management, and accessibility needs now and in the future while also making the best use of the available funding. With the local board’s approval, we’re taking the proposed design to the wider Northcote community for consultation.

Visual overview of the proposed upgrades to the Pupuke Road, Ocean View Road, and Raleigh Road intersection.

Our plan includes:

• Installing traffic lights at all corners of the intersection
• Installing traffic light-controlled crossings across Raleigh Road, Ocean View Road, and the left turn lane from Pupuke Road to give people who walk or use a wheelchair safe places to cross
• Adding high-friction road surfacing on the left turn lane from Pupuke Road on to Ocean View Road to encourage safe turning speeds
• Upgrading the existing traffic island to include better turning lines for vehicles, and footpaths and ramps for people who walk or use a wheelchair
• Placing yellow guidance pavers on all pedestrian crossing points for the visually impaired
• Placing ‘no stopping at all times’ yellow lines six metres from the intersection on all sides to discourage stopped vehicles that would block traffic and obstruct drivers’ views

Download the detailed construction drawing

Benefits and impacts

Our main goals in upgrading the Pupuke Road-Ocean View Road-Raleigh Road intersection are:

1. to ensure the growing volume of traffic flows safely and smoothly through the intersection now and in the future, and
2. to make it safer for drivers and pedestrians of all abilities to turn and cross the intersection.

We believe signalising the intersection and adding traffic light-controlled crossings and facilities achieves these goals with the least amount of disruption while making the best use of the available funding.

Signalising the intersection will help ensure buses with stops along the connecting streets continue providing reliable service as the area grows and traffic increases. 

The proposed upgrades would bring the following benefits:

• Significantly reduces delays during peak hours. Traffic delays would reduce to 16-40 seconds for travellers at all sides of the intersection.
• Allows for smooth, safe, and orderly flow of traffic through the area
• Helps ensure traffic continues flowing smoothly in the future as travel demand increases with new developments
• Helps ensure bus services that pass through the intersection will continue running efficiently and reliably
• Ensures drivers can turn safely from all sides of the intersection
• Gives people who walk or use a wheelchair safe, dedicated places to cross at all sides of the intersection
• Improves overall safety for travellers of all modes and abilities, and for residents in the area

  
  

Traffic light-controlled crossings on all sides of the intersection will help ensure pedestrians of all ages and abilities can cross safely.

Though minimal, there would be some impacts from the upgrades:

• To make room for the larger traffic island, we would need to merge the separated turn lanes off of Ocean View Road into one turn lane for both directions.
• To add more ‘no stopping’ lines, we would need to reallocate road space by removing about three northside and two southside street parking spaces on the Ocean View Road side of the intersection.

What we want your feedback on

We worked closely with the Kaipātiki Local Board to create a design that will address the safety concerns with the intersection that you and the community raised and best manages traffic flow now and in the future.

We would like your feedback on whether you believe this design would improve safety and travel for residents, drivers, people who walk, and who use public transport.

Many people who take the bus cross through the Pupuke Road, Ocean View Road, and Raleigh Road intersection to reach bus stops like this one for their daily commute. 

We want to know what your experience has been at the intersection and how these upgrades might affect it.

• How do you currently use the intersection?
• Do you live near it?
• Do you drive it every day to get to work or drop your kids off to school and other activities?
• Do you walk by the intersection?
• Do you take one of the buses with routes through the intersection? Are you someone with accessibility needs?
• Are you a commercial driver, and this intersection is part of your daily route?

Finally, we’ll ask your thoughts about certain elements of the design.

• Are you concerned about specific parts of it?
• Have we missed anything?
• What should we be thinking about as we make our final decisions?

Here’s how you can share your feedback:

• Complete our feedback survey. Please note, you will need to sign in or register to take the survey.
• Attend one of our community drop-in sessions at Northcote Library:
  • Friday, 12 July | 2-4pm
  • Saturday, 20 July | 11am - 1pm
• Email your comments to ATEngagement@at.govt.nz. Input in the subject line: “RE: Consultation: Pupuke Road intersection, Northcote”

Next steps after consultation

Here’s what we will do next after the consultation period ends:

• We will publish a summary of all the submissions we receive and key feedback themes.
• All feedback will be considered as we finalise the design and plan work.
• We will notify you of the final design and keep residents informed about construction plans.
• When it comes time to deliver the project, we will make every effort to minimise disruption during construction. We’ll provide contact details of the local project team should you have any issues or concerns.