The road layout takes shape

What's coming up in this newsletter

The new traffic lights at the intersections of West Street (State Highway 1) and East Street with Walnut Avenue are scheduled to be switched on later this year, once the rail level crossing work is complete. This update explains what is taking place in the coming months, how the temporary roundabouts will need to remain in place until the traffic lights can be coordinated with the rail warning lights, and also includes a shout out to the community who have been so patient during recent roadworks.

Update

During the past few months, we’ve worked hard to make the most of the warm dry weather to get the road built and sealed before winter. Thanks to everyone’s combined efforts, the new road layout has been finished as planned. The team has also completed the footpaths, stormwater basins, new streetlight columns and signage has gone up around the site. The new traffic light poles have also been installed ready for the next stage of this project.

When will the traffic lights be operational?

You may be wondering why the traffic lights are not working yet. It's because the traffic lights and railway warning lights have been designed to work together. This important safety feature means when a train is approaching, the traffic lights and rail crossing warning lights will coordinate to ensure drivers within the crossing area have sufficient 'green' time to clear the tracks. For this reason, the traffic lights won't be switched on until later this year, once the rail level crossing work is complete.

What work is coming up next?

Now that the road construction is all but finished, we can start the next stage of this work - the new railway level crossing on Walnut Avenue, between East Street and West Street. The new crossing is a significant improvement for the community and will help to keep everyone safe.

This next stage of work will include:

• Removing one of the existing three rail tracks, making the crossing narrower and quicker to cross.
• Building a new concrete crossing pad across the tracks.
• Installing new warning lights, bells and barrier arms.
• Installing an upgraded footpath, guide fencing and automatic gates for pedestrians.

How will traffic be managed over coming months?

By now you will be familiar with the two temporary roundabouts at the Walnut Avenue/West Street and Walnut Avenue/East Street intersections. These temporary roundabouts and lanes will remain in place until the rail level crossing is finished. The temporary roundabouts will manage road traffic while we concentrate on improvements to the rail corridor. Towards the end of the project, the rail crossing warning lights and traffic lights will be switched on and will work together.

Feel free to let friends and family know about this stage of work, which is occurring in the rail corridor and offsite. We want people to know that work is still ongoing even if it is less obvious.

Project completion

We expect the work at the rail level crossing to be finished and both the new traffic lights and rail warning lights to be working by the end of the year.

Following the switching on of the traffic lights and rail warning lights, there will be some final finishing work needed and we expect the whole project to be completed in early 2023.

This project is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, which is providing growing communities with better travel choices that help people get where they're going safely.

More information

Please contact Fulton Hogan on 0800 ROAD FH (0800 7623 34) if you have concerns or to discuss any specific access needs such as nurse/doctor visits or Meals on Wheels deliveries to your property. Contact us anytime if the matter is urgent.

For general information on the Walnut Avenue intersection improvements project, contact us at walnutave@nzta.govt.nz or visit our website: www.nzta.govt.nz/walnutave