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.

Street furniture and landscaping

Street furniture:

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

Landscaping:

The first Nikau trees have been 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

Photo - courtesy Cory Manson - Landlab: First Nikau's planted back near Howe Street corner

Liverpool Street to Queen Street

The relocation of the traffic light control box has been completed.  

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

• Continue with the kerbline and cycle way at the Queen Street corner

Queen Street to Pitt Street

During Alert Level 3 we made use of the lower pedestrian numbers and undertook significant footpath demolition works and have completed a large section of the paving at the mid block pedestrian crossing.   

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

• Continue installation of utility services, rain garden and drainage at the mid block pedestrian crossing.  Please note that pedestrian access will be maintained but will be changed to accommodate the works in this area.  
• Hydro excavation of light pole foundations
• Continue with paving at the bus stop build out
• Continue with drainage upgrade in the carriageway
• Commence construction of rain gardens at Pitt Street corner

Mercury Lane to West Terrace

East Street speed table construction has progressed well and is being constructed in halves to maintain access.  This work is expected to take approximately 4 weeks

Change in temporary traffic management - East Street:

During the day East Street will be maintained as a two way via stop go operations. 

At night from (5pm to 7am) East Street will be one way only for vehicles turning left out of East Street onto Karangahape Road - this means there will be no left hand turn into East Street from Karangahape Road at night

Upcoming works - what to expect:

• Continue with East Street speed table construction
• Continue with kerbs and pavers at the Mercury Lane corner 
• Finalise kerbs and pavers near West Terrace
• Finalise construction of the rain garden and tree pit near West Terrace

Howe Street Corners:  

Upcoming works - what to expect: 

• Continue with new traffic light installation at night
• Plant trees in tree pits on the western side of Howe Street, near Spaces

Upcoming night works - what to expect:

On Monday 31 August 2020 night work will take place at both corners of the Howe Street / Karangahape Road intersection to install new traffic lights.  The existing temporary traffic lights in drums will be removed and the permanent traffic lights will be installed.

To undertake this work, Howe Street will be closed between Hopetoun Street and Karangahape Road. Access to residents will be provided at Hopetoun Street but diversions will be in place for other vehicles.  Please follow the temporary traffic management signs and detours during these works

This work is expected to take approximately 4 nights to complete.  Please note there will be intermittent medium volume noise e.g. trucks and diggers moving and loading heavy equipment.

These night works are taking place in the evening due to high pedestrian and vehicle numbers during the day.

Ponsonby Road to Hereford 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 Ponsonby Road 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
• Install new street light foundations at three different locations in this stage

Upcoming night works - what to expect:

On Sunday 30 August 2020 night work commenced across Ponsonby Road intersection towards Great North Road to complete the ducting install for the new traffic lights. 

This work is expected to take approximately 4 further nights to complete.  Please note there will be intermittent medium volume noise e.g. trucks and diggers moving and loading heavy equipment.

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.

These night works are taking place in the evening due to high pedestrian and vehicle numbers during the day.

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

STAGING & LOADING ZONES 

Upcoming section: 

The section between Cobden Street and Newton Road is expected to commence mid to late September. 

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 

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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