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Brigham Creek Road and Airport Road, Whenuapai - Raised zebra crossings Brigham Creek Road and Airport Road, Whenuapai - Raised zebra crossings

Proposal status: Feedback closed 14 July 2020, last updated 15 July 2021.

Reference number: MIP1920-032

Proposal update

We advised you in July 2020 that these works were scheduled to be constructed by July 2021. Unfortunately, construction of this project has been delayed due to the impacts of Covid-19. This project is part of the Minor Improvements Programme. Planning and design will continue but currently many projects, including this project, were not able to be delivered in the 2020/2021 financial year. 

Next steps

We anticipate the changes will now be constructed by March 2022. 

Proposal outcome

In July 2020, we proposed changes to improve road crossing safety for people walking and cycling at Brigham Creek Road and Airport Road in Whenuapai. After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed.

Community feedback

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge. A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below.

  • We received multiple queries and comments about a link road between SH16 and SH18. These included:
    • When will a link road be constructed
    • A link road will reduce the volume of traffic passing through Whenuapai and the current alternative (Brigham Creek Road) is not suitable for use by the number or type of vehicles that are currently using it
    • A link road between SH16 to SH18 is needed to improve road/network efficiency
     The possibility of building a link road is outside the scope of the project and is something which will need to be dealt with by NZTA as they are responsible for the running of state highways.
  • We received multiple suggestions to lower the speed limit in the area. These included:
    • Lowering the speed limit to 30km/h as you turn onto Airport Road from Brigham Creek Road
    • A reduction in the speed limit on Airport Road
    • Lowering the speed limit to 50km/h after passing Trig Road towards the village centre
     Brigham Creek Road and the surrounding roads are subject to future development, therefore reducing speed limit in this area will be considered in future plans.
  • Request for electronic “SLOW DOWN” signs where the speed limit changes from 80 to 50km/h. We will investigate the possibility of installing electronic signs during detailed design.
  • Suggestion for rumble strips where speed limit changes from 80 to 50km/h as an additional reminder to slow down. We are currently working to a plan to reduce speeds on Auckland’s roads. This plan targets the highest priority areas based on the level of safety risk measured for each road on our network. The initial roll out of speed reduction is focused on approximately 10 per cent of our road network, including residential areas.
    While we do appreciate your concerns, Brigham Creek Road has not been identified in the first group of areas within our Residential Speed Management programme as other areas in the region are experiencing higher speeds and safety risk. More information, including the residential areas that will be prioritised for further investigation can be viewed on the Residential Speed Management Programme.
  • Requests for speed bumps, an additional crossing and tactile pavers on Airport Road, Brigham Creek Road, Tamatea Road and Trig Road. These roads and area are subject to future development, therefore upgrades at Airport Road / Brigham Creek Road and Tamatea Road / Brigham Creek Road intersections will be considered in future plans.
  • Requests for speed cameras at various points in Whenuapai, including near the shops and the school. Speed cameras are an enforcement matter and are determined by NZ Police.
  • Concerns that if the crossing is too steep heavy vehicles will not be able to safely navigate it or it could cause damage to car undercarriages.  The raised table will be according to standards suitable for all types of vehicles.
  • Concerns that raised crossings will cause significant traffic disruption and congestion on a main arterial route, especially during peak/rush hours. We have undertaken a site assessment and determined that it is very unlikely the crossing will impact traffic movements.
  • Concern about putting a raised crossing on Brigham Creek Road as it is now being used as a main road. The proposed raised pedestrian crossing is located at the existing pedestrian crossing. With the road becoming busier with more vehicle traffic, it is even more important to improve the safety of vulnerable road users, in particular school children. This can be achieved by the raised crossing as it will reduce traffic speed. We will continue to monitor the traffic situation after the raised crossing has been installed.
  • Query if a raised crossing on Airport Road is required as Whenuapai School already provides a road patrol before and after school. Auckland Transport aims to reduce speeds near schools by installing raised pedestrian crossings. The purpose of a raised crossing is to reduce traffic speed and improve the safety of vulnerable road users such as school children.
  • Suggestion to make the ‘STOP’ sign at the end of Airport Road going towards Whenuapai more prominent. The intersection of Airport Road and Tamatea Avenue is currently ‘Give-Way’ controlled. Our inspection shows that there is enough visibility for turning vehicles. No major safety concern was identified to justify changing the give-way to stop.
  • Suggestion to extend the islands on Airport Road in both directions, or add plastic bollards where the existing markings are to prevent parking after the crossing/near the school. Although parked vehicles may reduce the traffic flow, they also tend to discourage drivers from speeding and encourage greater care as the parked vehicles suggest that the road is narrow.
  • Recommendations to make Brigham Creek Road crossing a crossing with traffic lights. A site visit and pedestrian count has indicated that there is not enough demand to justify a signalised pedestrian crossing.
  • Suggestion that there needs to be more signs on the approach to the current Brigham Creek Road pedestrian crossing. This project will include the standard number of signs required for raised pedestrian crossings.
  • Suggestion to add flashing lights on the approach to the current Brigham Creek Road crossing. The use of flashing road studs at zebra crossings is a recent initiative that has been trialled at a number of crossings in Auckland and we are currently developing guidelines for when it is appropriate to install them. When these guidelines are completed, consideration will be given to installing them at this crossing.
  • Suggestion that the Brigham Creek Road does not need to be a raised crossing and instead just needs to be made more visible with improve signage on the approach to it. Having undertaken another site visit and reassessed this location against the criteria for each type of crossing, we believe that it is necessary to make this crossing a raised zebra crossing. The results of the assessment show that a raised zebra crossing is the safest option for vulnerable road users, in particular school children, in this location.
  • Suggestion for an island in the middle of the road to protect people crossing Brigham Creek Road, rather than a raised crossing. The existing pedestrian crossing which is being upgraded to a raised crossing is frequently used by residents and school children. Based on our data, raising the crossing is appropriate taking into account the amount of people using this crossing.
  • Suggestion for an underpass or over-bridge instead on Brigham Creek Road. Due to limited budget we are unable to consider an underpass or over-bridge.
  • Suggestion to create another parking area right next to school car park due to lack of street parking. Thank you for the suggestion, however this is not within the scope of the project.
  • Concern about lack of cycle lanes and potential pinch points for people cycling. Brigham Creek Road and surrounding roads are subject to future development, therefore cycling facilities along this section of road will be considered in future plans.
  • Query why this project is funded by the regional fuel tax Over the last 4 years there has been a 78% increase in road fatalities and serious injuries in Auckland, therefore spending on road safety is an immediate priority using the revenue from the region fuel tax.
  • Concern the amount of traffic along Airport Road does not warrant the expense of a raised crossing. There have been a number of near misses reported at this location. With a school close by, this project is also focused on the safety of school children who are walking to/from the school.
  • Query why this work was not aligned with the recent major roadworks when the roads were already closed. This was added to the Minor Improvements Programme after the other road maintenance was scheduled. The Minor Improvements Programme prioritises projects based on their safety and operational issues and relies on securing funding and resources before being able to progress. Due to the way this programme works we were unable to align this project with the other maintenance that was happening.
  • Suggestion that the traffic light phasing on Brigham Creek Road needs to be changed. Traffic light phasing will be investigated separately by the Auckland Transport Operations Centre team.
  • Query if there is a new footpath as there is already a footpath joining the 2 roads. The existing footpath that connects the two crossing locations will remain in place.

We're proposing changes in your area

We are proposing to update two existing pedestrian crossings to raised zebra crossings on Brigham Creek Road and Airport Road, Whenuapai. Our proposal responds to concerns about safety at this location, particularly for school children. There have also been multiple complaints about speed issues and drivers failing to stop to allow people to cross. The proposed changes aim to improve access, encourage lower speeds and improve safety for all people using the intersection, including the many school children using these crossings for access to Whenuapai School.

Changes proposed on Brigham Creek Road

  • Upgrade the current zebra crossing to a raised zebra crossing. The new zebra crossing will be raised to a platform level with the footpath. This will improve road safety by slowing high traffic speeds near the crossing.
  • Add side islands to the raised zebra crossing. This will allow for a safe area for people to wait before crossing.
  • Add new footpaths to improve access by connecting the raised zebra crossing to the existing footpaths.

Changes proposed on Airport Road

  • Upgrade the existing crossing to a raised zebra crossing. The new zebra crossing will be raised to a platform level with the footpath. This will improve road safety by slowing high traffic speeds near the crossing.
  • Upgrade and expand the existing traffic islands. This aims to improve safety by providing a safe place for people to wait before crossing.
  • Add new footpaths to improve access. The new footpaths will connect to the existing footpath between the Brigham Creek Road crossing and Airport Road crossing, creating a continuous path between the two new raised zebra crossings. This is expected to improve access especially to the nearby school.

This project is supported by the regional fuel tax fund.

Download the proposal drawing for Brigham Creek Road and Airport Road (PDF 1MB)

Whenuapai: Safe with us

Auckland Transport cares for your safety. We want to make our roads safe for everyone, people walking and cycling, especially for our kids and senior citizens and people driving. Projects like this one around Brigham Creek Road are another step towards our goal of achieving no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. We are guided by the Vision Zero approach to transport safety, which prioritises human safety over other measures (like minor time saving).