Russell Road and Swallow Drive, Manurewa – Safety Improvement

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Project Update

Construction will start on the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection from 31 March to May 2025. This project aims to address the history of crashes at the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection.

When we’ll be working

We will mainly carry out the work during the day between 7am and 5pm.

We will limit night work as much as possible. However, there is some work that we need to do at night to lessen disruption and keep everyone safe. When needed, we will schedule night works between 8pm and 5am.

Click here to view the Notice Letter and Detour Maps


Road Closure Dates

31 March – 7 April 2025

There will be a road closure on Swallow Drive and a lane closure in place on Russell Street, at all times, there will be a lane in each direction operational to ensure congestion is kept to a minimum. See detour maps on the right

A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place. Please follow all signs and traffic directions.

7 April - 14 April 2025

There will be a road closure on Cambridge Road and a lane closure in place on Russell Street, at all times, there will be a lane in each direction operational to ensure congestion is kept to a minimum. See detour maps on the right

A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place. Please follow all signs and traffic directions.

Super Weekends

We will need to close roads and set up detours. Please plan ahead and think about using another route. Click here to see details about super weekend road closure


Contact us

If you have any queries or concerns about this project, please contact AT by:


Project history

There have been reported crashes at the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection, including one crash that involved a motorcyclist and vehicle.

To make this intersection safer for everyone, whether they're going to work, church, or dropping the kids off to school we will be making some changes.

We plan to install a roundabout at the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection


Installing a roundabout makes it clearer and easier for drivers to navigate the intersection, it also encourages people to slow down which helps to reduce the likelihood of further crashes in the future.

To support the roundabout, we will also:

  • Remove the right turn bay into Swallow Drive
  • Install traffic islands, including a new pedestrian refuge island at the top of Swallow Drive
  • Rebuild the footpath near the intersection.
  • Rebuild the driveways of 103 and 105 Russell Road
  • Install cycle ramps for less confident cyclists to avoid the roundabout
  • Install new signage and road marking

Click here to view the design scheme.


Project Update

Construction will start on the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection from 31 March to May 2025. This project aims to address the history of crashes at the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection.

When we’ll be working

We will mainly carry out the work during the day between 7am and 5pm.

We will limit night work as much as possible. However, there is some work that we need to do at night to lessen disruption and keep everyone safe. When needed, we will schedule night works between 8pm and 5am.

Click here to view the Notice Letter and Detour Maps


Road Closure Dates

31 March – 7 April 2025

There will be a road closure on Swallow Drive and a lane closure in place on Russell Street, at all times, there will be a lane in each direction operational to ensure congestion is kept to a minimum. See detour maps on the right

A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place. Please follow all signs and traffic directions.

7 April - 14 April 2025

There will be a road closure on Cambridge Road and a lane closure in place on Russell Street, at all times, there will be a lane in each direction operational to ensure congestion is kept to a minimum. See detour maps on the right

A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place. Please follow all signs and traffic directions.

Super Weekends

We will need to close roads and set up detours. Please plan ahead and think about using another route. Click here to see details about super weekend road closure


Contact us

If you have any queries or concerns about this project, please contact AT by:


Project history

There have been reported crashes at the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection, including one crash that involved a motorcyclist and vehicle.

To make this intersection safer for everyone, whether they're going to work, church, or dropping the kids off to school we will be making some changes.

We plan to install a roundabout at the Russell Road and Swallow Drive intersection


Installing a roundabout makes it clearer and easier for drivers to navigate the intersection, it also encourages people to slow down which helps to reduce the likelihood of further crashes in the future.

To support the roundabout, we will also:

  • Remove the right turn bay into Swallow Drive
  • Install traffic islands, including a new pedestrian refuge island at the top of Swallow Drive
  • Rebuild the footpath near the intersection.
  • Rebuild the driveways of 103 and 105 Russell Road
  • Install cycle ramps for less confident cyclists to avoid the roundabout
  • Install new signage and road marking

Click here to view the design scheme.


Have we missed anything?

Let us know if you think we've missed something for the Russell Road and Swallow Drive Safety Improvement project.

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  • Share What’s the average rate of crash’s here. Can u give comparisons as well on Facebook Share What’s the average rate of crash’s here. Can u give comparisons as well on Twitter Share What’s the average rate of crash’s here. Can u give comparisons as well on Linkedin Email What’s the average rate of crash’s here. Can u give comparisons as well link

    What’s the average rate of crash’s here. Can u give comparisons as well

    Ask420 asked 9 months ago

    Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us.

    We are making changes at this intersection to address the crash history. There have been several reported crashes within a 50m radius of the intersection between 2018 – 2022 including:

    • One serious crash
    • Three minor injury crashes
    • Seven non-injury crashes 

    The reported crashes indicate a pattern of turning vehicles failing to give way to straight ahead traffic.

  • Share Raised tables, with enough room for a car to wait, for children and elderly folk to cross safely. And make the entry/exits perpendicular by tightening up the turns. Roundabouts should be about average speeds on a route, not turning fast as possible; this is how you increase safety. on Facebook Share Raised tables, with enough room for a car to wait, for children and elderly folk to cross safely. And make the entry/exits perpendicular by tightening up the turns. Roundabouts should be about average speeds on a route, not turning fast as possible; this is how you increase safety. on Twitter Share Raised tables, with enough room for a car to wait, for children and elderly folk to cross safely. And make the entry/exits perpendicular by tightening up the turns. Roundabouts should be about average speeds on a route, not turning fast as possible; this is how you increase safety. on Linkedin Email Raised tables, with enough room for a car to wait, for children and elderly folk to cross safely. And make the entry/exits perpendicular by tightening up the turns. Roundabouts should be about average speeds on a route, not turning fast as possible; this is how you increase safety. link

    Raised tables, with enough room for a car to wait, for children and elderly folk to cross safely. And make the entry/exits perpendicular by tightening up the turns. Roundabouts should be about average speeds on a route, not turning fast as possible; this is how you increase safety.

    bralucin asked 9 months ago

    Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us.

    We’ve passed on your query to our project lead. Please see below their response to your suggestion.

    The roundabout has been designed to encourage vehicles to approach at safe manoeuvring speeds.

    Speed tables were considered initially, however, as Russell Road is an arterial road and functions as a lifeline route and a frequent bus route, we did not progress this. 

    Installing speed tables here would have also cause additional noise and vibrations for residents.

  • Share Great! Will improve traffic flow during school pickup. However, I think there needs to be clearways between 2.15pm and 3.30pm on both parts of russell road and on side streets, especially deveron and montilla. Plus the bus stop across from st Anne's needs to be moved. Cars turning into st Anne's carpark cause traffic to bank up back to swallow street which will make the island pointless. Cars park on both sides of deveron resulting in cars being unable to turn in from russell Road if Cars are coming out of deveron. Even more difficult if the bus is parked there and Cars are turning right into the school. I have lived on russell road for 25 years and work at a local school so use the roads daily at 2.45pm and it has definitely become worse over the past few years. Cheers on Facebook Share Great! Will improve traffic flow during school pickup. However, I think there needs to be clearways between 2.15pm and 3.30pm on both parts of russell road and on side streets, especially deveron and montilla. Plus the bus stop across from st Anne's needs to be moved. Cars turning into st Anne's carpark cause traffic to bank up back to swallow street which will make the island pointless. Cars park on both sides of deveron resulting in cars being unable to turn in from russell Road if Cars are coming out of deveron. Even more difficult if the bus is parked there and Cars are turning right into the school. I have lived on russell road for 25 years and work at a local school so use the roads daily at 2.45pm and it has definitely become worse over the past few years. Cheers on Twitter Share Great! Will improve traffic flow during school pickup. However, I think there needs to be clearways between 2.15pm and 3.30pm on both parts of russell road and on side streets, especially deveron and montilla. Plus the bus stop across from st Anne's needs to be moved. Cars turning into st Anne's carpark cause traffic to bank up back to swallow street which will make the island pointless. Cars park on both sides of deveron resulting in cars being unable to turn in from russell Road if Cars are coming out of deveron. Even more difficult if the bus is parked there and Cars are turning right into the school. I have lived on russell road for 25 years and work at a local school so use the roads daily at 2.45pm and it has definitely become worse over the past few years. Cheers on Linkedin Email Great! Will improve traffic flow during school pickup. However, I think there needs to be clearways between 2.15pm and 3.30pm on both parts of russell road and on side streets, especially deveron and montilla. Plus the bus stop across from st Anne's needs to be moved. Cars turning into st Anne's carpark cause traffic to bank up back to swallow street which will make the island pointless. Cars park on both sides of deveron resulting in cars being unable to turn in from russell Road if Cars are coming out of deveron. Even more difficult if the bus is parked there and Cars are turning right into the school. I have lived on russell road for 25 years and work at a local school so use the roads daily at 2.45pm and it has definitely become worse over the past few years. Cheers link

    Great! Will improve traffic flow during school pickup. However, I think there needs to be clearways between 2.15pm and 3.30pm on both parts of russell road and on side streets, especially deveron and montilla. Plus the bus stop across from st Anne's needs to be moved. Cars turning into st Anne's carpark cause traffic to bank up back to swallow street which will make the island pointless. Cars park on both sides of deveron resulting in cars being unable to turn in from russell Road if Cars are coming out of deveron. Even more difficult if the bus is parked there and Cars are turning right into the school. I have lived on russell road for 25 years and work at a local school so use the roads daily at 2.45pm and it has definitely become worse over the past few years. Cheers

    Kaz asked 9 months ago

    Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us.

    We’ve passed on your query to our project lead. Please see below their response to your suggestion.

    Suggestion to install clearways on Russell Road, Deveron Road, and Montilla Place

    We appreciate that during pick up and drop off times, wait times along Russell Road can take longer than usual and be an inconvenience. 

    We understand that the use of the signalised pedestrian crossing outside the school during school peak times breaks up traffic flow which can result in traffic delays. This important pedestrian crossing allows students to get to school safely. 

    The majority of Russell Road, between Deveron Road and Montilla Place, already has broken yellow lines (no parking at all times) on both sides of the road to maintain visibility for people crossing near the entrance of St Anne’s Catholic School. Installing clearway signs here is not necessary as these broken yellow lines provide an “informal clearway”.

    The remaining on-street parking on Russell Road, between Deveron Road and Montilla Place, provides parents space to drop off or pick up their children. When vehicles park here, they also help to reduce traffic speeds as motorists slow down to park creating a slow speed environment outside the school. 

    Regarding installing clearways down Deveron Road and Montilla Place, both are low volume, residential streets which does not meet the criteria for clearway restrictions.

    We will not be installing clearway restrictions as part of this project.

    Suggestion to shift bus stops to reduce congestion

    The bus stops outside and opposite the school are located close to the signalised pedestrian crossing to encourage students to cross there. Relocating the bus stops further away may encourage people to cross at unsafe locations and wouldn’t alleviate congestion caused by the signalised pedestrian crossing. Therefore we will not be shifting the bus stop to another location.

  • Share I would consider banning the right turn from Cambridge Road into Russell Road as this would severely conflict with the operation of the roundabout and also the right turn from Russell into Cambridge. Motorists wishing to turn right out of Cambridge can simply go around the roundabout or use Oxford Road. on Facebook Share I would consider banning the right turn from Cambridge Road into Russell Road as this would severely conflict with the operation of the roundabout and also the right turn from Russell into Cambridge. Motorists wishing to turn right out of Cambridge can simply go around the roundabout or use Oxford Road. on Twitter Share I would consider banning the right turn from Cambridge Road into Russell Road as this would severely conflict with the operation of the roundabout and also the right turn from Russell into Cambridge. Motorists wishing to turn right out of Cambridge can simply go around the roundabout or use Oxford Road. on Linkedin Email I would consider banning the right turn from Cambridge Road into Russell Road as this would severely conflict with the operation of the roundabout and also the right turn from Russell into Cambridge. Motorists wishing to turn right out of Cambridge can simply go around the roundabout or use Oxford Road. link

    I would consider banning the right turn from Cambridge Road into Russell Road as this would severely conflict with the operation of the roundabout and also the right turn from Russell into Cambridge. Motorists wishing to turn right out of Cambridge can simply go around the roundabout or use Oxford Road.

    kiwislark asked 9 months ago

    Thank you for your question. We have passed this on to our engineering team.

    Installing a roundabout near Cambridge Road creates slower speed environment. This slow speed environment allows for safer turning into and out of Cambridge Road than the current road layout.

    The traffic volumes on Cambridge Road are low and the roundabout proposal does not change the lane configuration. There will still be a right turn lane into and out of Cambridge Road from Russell Road.

    As there are only two reported non-injury crashes related to turning into and out of Cambridge Road, this shows that the intersection is operating well. Banning people turning into and out of Cambridge Road is not justified at this stage.

    However, once we install the roundabout, we will continue to monitor and evaluate this intersection.

Page last updated: 21 Mar 2025, 12:37 PM