The Strand Optimisation project

14 June 2024

Latest update on The Strand Optimisation project

Kia ora koutou,

The following provides an update on The Strand Optimisation project.

We’d like to thank you for taking the time to provide suggestions and feedback on the concept design in 2023. Your feedback, along with additional technical assessments, have been used to create the preliminary design, as set out below.

This diagram is indicative only and not to scale

Proposed improvements

The proposed improvements include:

• A special vehicle lane (SVL) – The SVL will improve travel efficiency for freight and vehicles with multiple occupants (T2). The SVL is proposed to be operational between 6.30-10am and 4-7pm (Monday-Friday) in both directions. There will be no parking along the SVL. This is to ensure there are two lanes of traffic in both directions at all times.                                             
• A separated shared user path (SUP) – The new SUP for walking and cycling will connect to the existing Grafton Gully SUP just prior to Alten Road. It will follow the existing SUP 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.                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Strand rail overbridge is at the end of its life and due for replacement. Considering this, no major alterations will be made to the bridge for the SUP however, we will be altering the kerb leading up to the bridge to address the issue of vehicles running over the footpath. The footpath across the bridge will be marked for SUP usage.                                                                             
• Bus stop removal/relocation – The bus stop and shelters outside The Strand train station will be slightly relocated in between the trees outside of the U-Save. This will avoid removing any trees in this location. 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 remain in its current location as the previously proposed signalised crossing has been removed.                                   
• New pedestrian crossings –                                                                      Alten Road crossing will be located further north to align with the SUP entrance on Churchill Street and will provide a single movement to cross Alten Road.      The 2 existing crossings required to cross Alten Road will be removed.                                                                                                                          Four flat zebra crossings at Ronayne Street, Ngaoho Place, Cotesmore Way and Sudbury Terrace.                                                                                                                                                                                                  No new signalised crossings will be built along The Strand.  However, the proposed signalised crossing outside 59-63 The Strand will be future proofed with underground ducting to allow for a crossing to be built if there is a need in the future.                                                                                                 
• Intersection improvements – Minor improvements are proposed at the SH16 / Alten Road / Nicholls Lane and Stanley Street / Beach Road / Parnell Rise signalised intersections. The camber of the road will be adjusted along The Strand in the vicinity of the St Georges Bay Road intersection to help reduce instances of truck roll-over events which have occurred in the past.

Parking

We acknowledge the importance of parking in this area for businesses and must find the correct balance between parking needs and efficiency, to support the movement of freight and people. The project will remove 32 on-street parking spaces, 31 of which are due to the SVL on The Strand and one space on Sudbury Terrace for the SUP.

The project will retain 10 on-street parking spaces, 7 on The Strand and 3 on Shipwright Lane. An additional 14 parking spaces will also be formalised on Shipwright Lane.

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

We have uncovered very shallow utilities under the footpath on The Strand which means no new indented loading or parking bays will be provided.

Next steps

We anticipate the final design will be completed in late 2024. As we progress through detailed design, we will update you on progress and likely timeframes for construction. We’ll continue to update you as we have more information.

Lastly, on behalf of The Strand Optimisation project team, we thank you for your patience while we work to get this right and make this section of SH16 more efficient and safer.

More information

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

Email: StrandOptimisation@nzta.govt.nz

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