The Strand Optimisation project

23 October 2024

Latest update on The Strand Optimisation project

Kia ora koutou,

In our previous update, we shared how your suggestions and feedback helped shape the preliminary design for The Strand Optimisation Project.
Since then, we have finalised the detailed design which sets out the final safety and efficiency improvements.

We’d like to thank you for your patience as we worked through the design process to ensure we get this right and make this section of SH16 more efficient and safer.

Stages for improvements

The project will be delivered in stages:

• Stage 1 Improvements: implementing a special vehicle lane (SVL), relocating or removing bus stops, installing new pedestrian crossings, and upgrading intersections.
• Stage 2 Improvements: implementing a shared use path (SUP).

Auckland System Management (ASM), operate and maintain Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland motorway network. As part of their rehabilitation programme there is some upcoming road works that will require road closure / traffic management restrictions. To avoid rework on the road and minimise disruptions to the local community and road users, we have accelerated the design and delivery of Stage 1 to align with these planned works.

Construction is expected to start on Stage 1 in late 2024/early 2025, and will take around 5 months to complete, subject to weather conditions.

Stage 1 improvements:

A special vehicle lane (SVL) will be created on either side of The Strand between the intersection of Parnell Rise/The Strand and west of St Georges Bay Road to help move people and freight around more reliably. The SVL will be for vehicles with two or more people (T2) and heavy vehicles, operating between 6.30AM – 10:00AM and 4:00PM – 7:00PM, Monday to Friday. No parking will be permitted along the SVL to ensure two lanes are always available.

A number of bus stops will need to be relocated or removed including:

• The bus stop and shelters outside The Strand train station will be relocated between the trees outside of U-Save, avoiding the removal of any trees in this location.
• The bus stops located just north of Sudbury Terrace will be removed.
• Both parallel bus stops on Gladstone Road will be moved east to safely accommodate the new signalised crossing.
• The bus stop on the southern side of The Strand, nearest the Saatchi & Saatchi building, will be relocated 20 meters west to improve safety for bus movements.

Upgrades to existing intersections and providing new pedestrian crossings

• The Alten Road crossing will be located further north to align with the existing SUP entrance on Churchill Street, providing a single movement for crossing Alten Road.
• The two existing crossings required to cross Alten Road will be removed.
• Two new signalised crossings will be added; one across Nicholls Lane and one along Gladstone Road, just west of Balfour Road.
• No new signalised pedestrian crossings will be built along The Strand, as previously proposed.
• Minor improvements are proposed at the SH16/Alten Road/Nicholls Lane and Stanley Street intersection.
• The camber of the road will be adjusted along The Strand near the St Georges Bay Road intersection and The Strand train station to increase safety due to instances of truck roll-over events which have occurred in the past.

Stage 2 Improvements:

A separated shared use path (SUP) will connect to the existing Grafton Gully shared use path just prior to Alten Road. It will follow the existing path on Churchill Street to the new signalised crossing, then run along Beach Road and connect to The Strand up to the rail overbridge. This will be separated from the road to improve safety, road efficiency and productivity. The detailed design is still being refined for the shared use path and is subject to change.

Parking

We acknowledge the importance of parking in this area for businesses and the need to find the correct balance between parking and efficiency of the transport network, to support the movement of freight and people. The project will remove 29 on-street parking spaces, to create space for the special vehicle lane on The Strand. 

The project will retain 12 on-street parking spaces, 9 on The Strand and 3 on Shipwright Lane. An additional 14 parking spaces will also be formalised on Shipwright Lane, with no time restrictions.

All on-street parking along The Strand will be time limited and enforced by Auckland Transport (AT) to ensure fair usage and optimise parking opportunities throughout the day for customers and visitors. There are also many paid parking locations along The Strand that will continue to be available.

Next steps

The next step will be to hand the design to our construction partners ASM so they can prepare for construction on Stage 1. ASM will provide further information and keep the community informed with updates as they develop the construction plan.

As we progress through detailed design for Stage 2, we will update you on progress and likely timeframes for construction.

More information

If you have any questions regarding the design and/or other aspects of the project, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Email:StrandOptimisation@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/the-strand-optimisation