CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Read our construction update to see what has been achieved and what is coming up on the Karangahape Road Enhancements project. 

ALERT LEVEL 2

Construction on the Karangahape Road Enhancement project continues under Alert Level 2. The project team continues the strict protocols of increased hygiene, additional H&S measures and work bubbles.

Upcoming Section - Cobden Street to Newton Road

The section between Cobden Street and Newton Road was planned to commence on Friday 18 September 2020.  However, as traffic management approvals are still pending, this section is likely to commence in stages. Cobden Street to Edinburgh Road could commence this week, followed by the remaining of the stage as approval is received. 

Change in temporary traffic management - Cobden Street 

To construct the speed table across Cobden Street, there will be temporary changes to access at the intersection of Cobden Street and Karangahape Road. One lane of traffic at Cobden Street will be maintained around our works, as a stop/go operation during the day, and a give way operation at night when traffic volumes are lower.

During the construction on this stage, there will be no right turn from Karangahape Road into Cobden Street. 

Change in temporary traffic management - Edinburgh Street  

During construction the Edinburgh Street and Karangahape Road intersection is one way only for vehicles exiting left onto Karangahape Road from Edinburgh Street. This set up will come into effect when construction commences. Vehicles that would usually exit Edinburgh Street onto Karangahape Road are required to exit left.  Vehicles wanting to access Howe Street or head east on Karangahape Road are advised take Newton Road/Karangahape Road via Ophir Street.

A loading zone will be maintained on Edinburgh Street outside the site work site.

Change in temporary traffic management - Gundry Street

During construction of the speed table, Gundry Street will temporarily become a one way only for vehicles entering Gundry Street from Karangahape Road.

Vehicles wanting to exit Gundry Street to turn left onto Karangahape Road are advised to take Edinburgh Street. Or vehicles wanting to exit Gundry Street to turn right onto Karangahape Road are advised to take Newton Road/Karangahape Road via Ophir or Abbey Streets.  

A loading zone will be maintained in Gundry Street outside the site work.

Cobden Street to Edinburgh Street

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

The traffic management plan for the section between Cobden Street and Edinburgh Street is pending approval but is expected to be given this week.  Once it has been approved the pedestrian fencing and traffic management will be set up and the construction team will commence demolition, starting with saw cutting along the carriageway and footpath.  This includes the breakout of the footpath concrete up to the building line.  Pedestrian access will be maintained during this breakout work.

Symonds Street to Upper Queen Street

This week, work to install permanent traffic lights and complete surrounding areas, including the new pram crossings, traffic islands and kerbline at the corner of Symonds Street commences.  A change in lane layout is in place while this work takes place, however vehicle and footpath access will be maintained around the work.

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

• Commence construction of the traffic islands for the traffic lights
• Commence foundations and ducting for the new traffic lights
• Construct new pram crossing

Liverpool Street to Queen Street 

Works to continue with the kerbline and cycle way at the Queen Street corner will commence once the exposed cables have been relocated by the utility providers.

Queen Street to Pitt Street

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

• Continue installation of utility services, rain garden and ducting from the mid block pedestrian crossing towards Queen Street.  Please note that pedestrian access will be maintained but will be changed to accommodate the works in this area
• Continue construction of rain garden at Pitt Street corner
• Commence rain garden construction at Queen Street corner

Upcoming night works - what to expect: 

On Wednesday night 30 September 2020 from 18:00, work to connect ducting into the existing power pit will be completed.  This means pedestrians will be diverted around this work while it is taking place, however footpath access will be maintained. Please note there will be intermittent high to medium volume noise, i.e. concrete breaking but we will endeavour to have noisy works completed by 10:30pm

Ponsonby Road to Hereford Street

Installation of the new street and traffic lights will be completed this week and require a change in temporary traffic management.  Please take note of the temporary traffic management changes.

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

• Stand new street lights in Hereford Street and in the section between Hereford Street and Howe Street.  These will be livened next week

Upcoming night works - what to expect:

On Sunday 4 October 2020 from 19:30 - 06:00:

The existing traffic lights will be replaced with the new lights at the corner of Ponsonby Road and Karangahape Road

A change in lane layout will be required while this work is taking place, however vehicle and footpath access will be maintained around the work. Please note there will be intermittent medium to low volume noise, i.e. trucks moving but we will endeavour to have noisy works completed by 10:30pm.

Street furniture and landscaping

Street furniture:

This activity is ongoing and you will see a mixture of single seat and benches being installed.

Landscaping:

Trees are being returned to Karangahape Road and the rest will follow as we get the traffic management approval. 

In the end, 33 new trees will be added to the streetscape. A mix of Nikau (19), Pohutukawa Mistral (12) and London Plane (2).  Tree species have been selected to tie in with the character and heritage of Karangahape Road.  They must also be compatible with the road and easily maintained as this is a key public transport route, that caters for double-decker buses.  The height of Nikau trees makes them well suited to be planted alongside bus routes. 

As construction progresses, more trees and rain gardens will be planted, bringing shade, shelter, and a natural stormwater filtration system to the area. 

Information on landscaping and vegetation plans are on AT’s website.

STAGING & LOADING ZONES 

Parking and Loading zones:

Below is a map of the Karangahape Road precinct showing the construction stages, temporary bus stop relocations and loading zones.

Auckland Transport’s parking enforcement is working to ensure parking is being correctly used throughout the Karangahape Road precinct.  If you have a request for parking enforcement, please call Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

Loading zone map below 

CYCLEWAY - SOFT OPENING:

During the works, sections of the newly constructed cycleway have remained closed for safety reasons as they did not link up along the street. However, as works are progressing, we can facilitate a soft opening of the cycleway now instead of opening it fully at the end of the project.  In conjunction with AT and Bike Auckland we have and will continue to open sections of the cycleway - there will be temporary signage and road markings to help guide cyclists on along the cycleway.  Please follow these signs and dismount when required

While this "soft opening" will allow cyclists to utilise sections of the cycleway that do not have active construction in them, it is important to note that construction work will take place later at some of these ‘open’ cycleway sections to finalise construction.     

In these instances, we will have the relevant traffic management in place to indicate these work locations, but we will endeavour to maintain cycleway access.

Temporary road markings are completed on the eve of the opening.

The following are planned sections to be opened - dates will be confirmed in the upcoming newsletters:

• Overbridge South Side: TBC
• Symonds Street to Queen Street:  TBC 

Photo: Cycleway signage

If you have any construction queries during the project, we encourage you to contact us on 
0800 KRD JFC (0800 573 532) or karangahaperoad@jfcltd.co.nz

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