Improving intersection safety in Franklin

Everyone deserves to be safe on Auckland roads. To help make two rural intersections in the Franklin area safer and easier to use we are proposing installing intersection speed zones.

Great South Road

Great South Road is a busy route and this section of the road at Runciman is near an industrial area. It is used by local traffic, commercial vehicles and some heavy trucks. About 4,650 vehicles per day use this section and about 370 vehicles per day use Pitt Road. The type of traffic and the high number of crashes mean this is a high-risk intersection. In the past five years there have been 15 reported crashes here.

Papakura Clevedon Road

Papakura Clevedon Road is a key route between Papakura and Clevedon and also a busy tourist route for the east coast. About 4,000 vehicles per day use Papakura Clevedon Road, about 1,240 per day use Tourist Road and about 810 per day use Creightons Road. The complicated “K” shaped layout, with both side roads on one side of Papakura Clevedon Road, and the number of crashes mean this is a high-risk intersection. In the past five years there have been 4 reported crashes here.

What we are doing

We are proposing implementing intersection speed zones at both these intersections. This means variable speed limit signs would be installed on Great South Road and on Papakura Clevedon Road. When there is a vehicle waiting to turn from Pitt Road onto Great South Road, or from Tourist Road or Creightons Road on to Papakura Clevedon Road, the signs at the intersection will display a temporary lower speed limit. A lower speed through the intersection makes it safer for everyone. The lower speed only applies when the signs are activated by a vehicle waiting to turn.

How it works

Intersection speed zones use sensors and electronic signs to automatically detect vehicles waiting turn into or out of side roads. When the sensors detect a vehicle waiting to turn, the variable speed limit signs on the main road will turn on and display 60km/h. This will alert drivers they need to slow down because there are vehicles waiting to turn into or out of a side road.

The diagrams below shows where the signs will be installed, and the detection and speed-limit zones:

Location 1: Great South Road / Pitt Road, Runciman

When the sensors detect a vehicle waiting to turn at Pitt Road, the variable speed limit signs on Great South Road will turn on and display 60km/h. This will alert drivers they need to slow down because there are vehicles waiting to turn.

Download the map here Location 2: Papakura Clevedon Road / Tourist Road / Creightons Road

When the sensors detect a vehicle waiting to make any turn at Tourist Road / Creightons Road, the variable speed limit signs on Papakura Clevedon Road will turn on and display 60km/h. This will alert drivers they need to slow down because there are vehicles waiting to turn.

Download the map here

Why we are doing this

Intersection speed zones are a targeted safety improvement proven to reduce serious crashes. They have been identified as an effective solution for these locations. They can be installed faster and at a much lower cost than major changes like traffic lights or roundabouts, while still delivering strong safety benefits with minimal construction disruption. This allows safety improvements to be rolled out at more locations across the network.

The government's Land Transport Rule - Setting of Speed Limit Rule 2024 requires us to complete a cost benefit disclosure statement for the proposed speed limit changes. Find out more here and here.

Have your say

Community engagement is open for six weeks from 12 June to 24 July. You can share your thoughts by:

• Completing the survey
• Emailing us at ATEngagement@at.govt.nz

What happens next

We will consider all community feedback and present a recommendation to Franklin Local Board. The Local Board will provide feedback prior to a final decision being made.

Enter your email in the Stay Informed box above, to be notified via email when the consultation report is available. All those who complete the survey will be notified.