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Matua Road & Tapu Road, Huapai – Intersection Improvements Matua Road & Tapu Road, Huapai – Intersection Improvements

Proposal status: construction to start in 2025

Reference number: CSFR1.5

Project update

In 2025, we will improve the safety of the Matua Road and Tapu Road intersection.

We proposed these changes in May 2022. The Rodney Local Board asked us to improve the safety of this intersection for pedestrians. We reviewed the feedback from the community and stakeholders and decided to proceed with minor changes.

In 2024, we decided to make more changes before starting construction. We are making the zebra crossings level instead of raised, as originally planned. This will make traffic flow smoother. It will also give pedestrians high visibility and priority.

We also decided to extend the no stopping at all times yellow lines:

  • on the eastern side of Tapu Road approaching the roundabout from the north
  • on the southern side of Matua Road approaching the roundabout from the east.

After we make these changes, drivers will be able to clearly see pedestrians crossing well before they reach the intersection. This gives them have plenty of room to slow or stop.

To see the proposed changes, download the design drawing (PDF, 1.1MB).

We have scheduled construction to begin in 2025. We will notify residents and businesses before construction starts.

May 2022 consultation and outcome

One of our original proposals was upgrading the existing stop control intersection at Matua Road and Tapu Road. We wanted to build a central, mountable, roundabout island. This option would be relatively cheap and safe, while lessening disruption. It is also easier for buses to pass through.

Another proposal was to install raised zebra crossings on each entry to the intersection. This will lower vehicle speeds through the intersection and give pedestrians priority.

We also proposed:

  • installing yellow tactile pavers on the footpath at each crossing point to help visually impaired people find their way
  • installing line markings, signage and lighting to support the changes
  • building out the grass berms on 3 of the intersection’s corners
  • extending the footpath on both sides of each raised zebra crossing

A final proposal was to paint broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times) on the approaches to each of the zebra crossings. This will help motorists and pedestrians to see each other, especially when people are crossing the road.

Download our first proposal drawing for Matua Road and Tapu Road (PDF 1.1MB) 

The majority of residents strongly supported this proposal. In their feedback, people reported feeling unsafe at the prospect of their children attempting to use this intersection. They expressed their belief that the raised pedestrian crossings would improve safety by reducing driver speeds at the intersection.

Here is a summary of the additional comments and queries we received, and our responses to them: 

Design Issues

Concern that the intersection is not wide enough, and that buses and trucks will struggle to navigate the roundabout without crossing the centreline and causing a safety hazard.
We have designed the size and shape of the roundabout to make sure that buses and trucks that use this intersection can safely navigate through the intersection without causing safety issues. 

Request to put in speed lines (similar to Old North Road) to slow people down.
With the introduction of raised pedestrian crossings, speed lines or rumble strips will not be required. This is because the raised crossings will physically force drivers to slow down and provide a safer environment.

Request for flashing cat’s eyes instead of raised crossings.
Although flashing cat’s eyes may catch the attention of drivers, they will not necessarily slow them down to a safe and appropriate speed as desired.
Introducing raised pedestrian crossings will physically force drivers to slow down to the desired speed.

Request for clear signage to be installed for oncoming traffic toward the roundabout, either rumble strips or doubling flashing lights as warnings.
We will install appropriate and standard warning signs and line marking associated with the raised zebra crossings and roundabout.
We will install flashing orange beacons on each of the zebra crossings.

Request for a concrete footpath to be installed outside 127 and 129 Matua Road to connect these properties to the zebra crossings.
Due to this project's funding constraints, we are unable to include this section of footpath within the scope of this project.
However, we have sent this request to the appropriate team to be added to our new footpath candidate list.

Raised Pedestrian Crossing

Concern that the raised aspect of the pedestrian crossing is unnecessary and expensive.
Due to location limitations and the types of vehicles using this intersection, we could not design the proposed roundabout to reduce speeds as much as required. Vehicles would still be able to speed through the intersection and any resulting crashes would be likely to result in a death or serious injury.

To solve this issue, the design proposes a smaller, mountable roundabout with raised pedestrian crossings on all entries to the intersection. The purpose of the raised pedestrian crossings on each entry is to encourage drivers to reduce their speeds when approaching.

We understand that people make mistakes, whether as drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians. However, the harm that crashes can cause is determined by the speed that drivers are travelling at. Therefore, a raised crossing is beneficial because it encourages drivers to slow down, further improving safety for both pedestrians and all other road users.

Concern that the raised pedestrian crossings are too steep/high and cause damage to vehicles.
We will design the raised pedestrian crossing so that it will not damage road legal vehicles if they travel at the recommended speed. A safety audit will be undertaken after construction to ensure the raised crossing is built to specifications.

Concern that the raised pedestrian crossings will cause excessive noise and disturb nearby residents.
We do not expect that there will be excessive braking required at this location, as the raised pedestrian crossing will be signposted and visible to all drivers.

Therefore, we expect that drivers will slow down on the approach to the raised table in a reasonable manner without generating excessive noise.

Location Concerns

Request to relocate the pedestrian crossings slightly further away from the roundabout, to prevent congestion at the roundabout caused by cars giving way to pedestrians.
The proposed locations of the pedestrian crossings are at points of the intersection where pedestrians would generally want to cross. Moving the pedestrian crossing further away from the roundabout would deviate from the most comfortable route for a person to cross. This would encourage pedestrians to cross in unsafe locations.

This is also the preferred location given all site and driveway constraints. 

Parking Removal

Request that broken yellow lines are kept to a minimum down the sides of Tapu and Matau Road to ensure there is sufficient parking in the area.
We have reviewed the proposed parking removal and decided to decrease parking removal in the following areas:

Northern leg of Tapu Road: reduced broken yellow lines by 10m – 2 car parks retained
Eastern leg of Matua Road: reduced broken yellow lines by 16m – 3 car parks retained
Southern leg of Tapu Road: reduced NSAAT by 8m. This is mainly over an existing vehicle crossing. Therefore, no parks will be retained.
Western leg of Matua Road: reduced NSAAT by 24m – 4 car parks retained

Miscellaneous

Request for a pedestrian crossing near Larmer Drive to improve pedestrian safety for children trying to access the proposed playground.
There is a new crossing proposed on Matua, close to Gilbransen Road, which is in close proximity to Larmer Drive. Find out more about the proposed new crossing.

Request to extend the footpath along Matua Road, between Tapu Road and Orchard Road.
Due to the funding constraints of this project, we are unable to include this section of footpath within the scope of this project.
However, we have sent this request to the appropriate team to be added to AT’s new footpath candidate list.

Community Safety Fund

This project is part of the Community Safety Fund. Auckland Transport is partnered with the Rodney Local Board to deliver this project, as part of more than 80 safety improvement projects across the Auckland region. The Community Safety Fund is a $20 million programme focused on addressing local road safety concerns raised by the community to local boards and ward councillors.

It is also supported with funding from the Auckland regional fuel tax.

Huapai: 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 Matua Road and Tapu 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).