Improving crossing safety outside Torbay School

About the project

We’re responding to concerns raised by Torbay School and the community about the need for safer crossing facilities along Deep Creek Road in Waiake.

Deep Creek Road can be very busy before and after school, with lots of cars during drop off and pick up times, and students and families walking, scootering or biking. This creates challenges and safety risks when crossing.

Thanks to the Hibiscus and Bays Transport Capital Fund, we’ll upgrade the crossing outside the school to make it safer for everyone, especially our tamariki.

The changes we’re making

• Upgrade the existing zebra crossing with a central crossing island and a traffic island on the north side. These islands will create a gentle curve in the road, encouraging drivers to slow down, while giving the people crossing a safer place to wait to cross.
• Reinstate “stay put” school patrol poles and signage at the crossing so drivers know they’re near a school and need to slow down.
• Upgrade the pram ramps with tactile pavers on both ends of the crossing. These are yellow guidance markers at the crossing points to help vision impaired people safely cross the road.
• Install new signs and road markings so drivers know they are approaching a crossing and need to slow down.
• Install new street light poles so people crossing are easier for motorists to see, especially at night
• Rebuild footpaths on both sides of the crossing to provide more room and a safe area to wait before crossing the road
• Re-allocate road space by removing 4 parking spaces along Deep Creek Road to clear access and maintain visibility near the crossing.

Benefits to your community

• Makes it safer and easier for children, their parents and caregivers, people with different accessibility needs to cross safely
• Gives families more confidence to let their children walk, scoot or bike to school, fostering their independence
• Protects students walking to and from school by slowing down traffic and making drivers more aware that they need to slow down near schools
• New road markings and signs clarify right of way, improve safety by minimising risk of collisions, and ensures compliance with traffic regulations

We will install these changes in May 2026.

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

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

How to contact us

If you'd like to speak to someone about our plans, please email us at ATengagement@at.govt.nz by 19 December 2025.

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