Alfriston Road and Scotts Road, Manurewa – Pedestrian improvements Alfriston Road and Scotts Road, Manurewa – Pedestrian improvements
Proposal status: Feedback open until 15 December 2021
Reference number: RSU2021-040
Proposal update
In December 2021, we proposed changes to improve pedestrian safety on Alfriston Road in Manurewa as part of a region-wide pedestrian safety programme. This location on Alfriston Road was chosen for improvements because of the history of crashes and the proximity to a school and a childcare centre. After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed. These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.
What happens next
We anticipate construction of this project will begin this financial year, before June 2022. We will be in touch with nearby residents prior to any construction taking place.
Community feedback
Thank you for adding your voice to this proposal. Your local knowledge has helped us make this decision for your neighbourhood. Respondents told us that they supported this project because it would improve safety for pedestrians, especially schoolchildren. In the feedback we also heard some queries and suggestions from the community – these have each been responded to below.
Raised signalised crossing at 74 Alfriston
- Suggestion that the speed table (the wide, flat speed hump crossing point) is not necessary, and just the speed table or the traffic lights should be installed.
Auckland Transport is committed to delivering the Vision Zero Strategy and providing safer crossing facilities for pedestrians. A central goal of this strategy is to ensure that if a crash involving vulnerable users happens - for example due to a driver’s error or a pedestrian crossing without traffic signals – it must be at survivable speeds of below 30 km/h. Speed surveys undertaken on Alfriston Road showed us that drivers frequently exceed the 50 km/h speed limit. A speed table has been proposed along with the signalised crossing as it is one of the most efficient way to reduce drivers’ speeds near the crossing point. We have however, opted for a shallower and lower speed table, recognising the importance of Alfriston Road as a major vehicle traffic corridor.
- Concern that the location floods on the north side of Alfriston Road and it is too close to the motorway overpass with poor sightlines and a large volume of fast-moving traffic.
The design team carried out several site visits, including one where the sight distance was directly measured, because the crest of the bridge was one of our concerns. Based on our measurements, the crossing will be visible from more than 200m from the east (motorway bridge) and 155m from the west. This distance is substantially longer if we take into account the height at which the new signals will be installed. Drivers only need about 75m to react and safely stop, so the sightlines are more than adequate, and considered safe. The stormwater drainage along the north side of Alfriston Road will be reviewed again in the next stage of design.
- Request to ensure that the road is not narrowed at the traffic lights so that cyclists do not have to enter general traffic lanes.
The road width between the island and the kerb will be 5.4m. This provides ample room for vehicles and cyclists side by side (more than the accepted safe minimum of 4.2m).
- Request to ensure the speed table is built to cope with heavy vehicles like quarry trucks.
The speed table will be built from a high-strength asphalt mix and designed for the vehicle loads that travel on Alfriston Road.
- Suggestion to move the traffic lights to the busier Claude and Alfriston intersection.
The proposed location has been selected based on several factors, such as proximity to schools or their historical safety record. Two pedestrians were injured at this location in the recent past, one of them seriously. The crossing is also next to Manurewa East School, so it is considered a higher priority for safety upgrades. However, we appreciate your comment regarding the Claude and Alfriston intersection, and can inform you that this intersection is currently being investigated.
Pedestrian refuge island crossing on Scotts Road
- Concern that narrowing the turn lane on Scotts Road to fit a pedestrian island will only make it more difficult to turn onto Alfriston Road from Scotts Road during peak times, and Scotts Road will back up like Claude Road at Alfriston Road.
Auckland Transport is committed to delivering safer crossing facilities for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrian refuge islands are an efficient means of achieving this because they let pedestrians cross in two stages and shorten the overall crossing distance, therefore reducing the time pedestrians are exposed to the hazards caused by vehicles.
The design team carried site visits during periods of busy traffic, noting that whilst some queuing occurs on Scotts Road, these queues are generally short-lived and are not expected to get substantially worse once the pedestrian island has been implemented. We expect the proposed raised crossing on Alfriston Road will slow traffic on the main road and increase gaps between vehicles, making it easier for drivers on Scotts Road to pull onto the main road.
We're proposing improvements in your area
Aucklanders have told us that moving around our city safely and easily is important to them. That's why we're suggesting some improvements in your area.
We are proposing to upgrade two crossing points at the intersection of Alfriston Road and Scotts Road. They will make it safer for pedestrians such as students and parents at Manurewa East School.
This upgrade would involve:
- Changing the crossing at 74 Alfriston Road to a traffic light-controlled raised crossing. This is a crossing on top of a wide, flat speed bump with a gentle, sloped exit. There would be a crossing push button at both sides of the road. This button would turn the traffic lights red when people need to cross the road.
- Painting green stop boxes at the traffic light crossing on Alfriston Road. These boxes would give cyclists a place to stop safely.
- Installing a pedestrian island crossing on Scotts Road. There would be a traffic island in the middle of the road, where people can safely wait to cross.
- Installing tactile pavers at both crossings. These are textured yellow tiles that help visually impaired people find their way.
- Installing high-friction road surfacing on Alfriston Road on the way to the new crossing. This would help drivers brake safely.
- Painting broken yellow lines on Scotts Road. This would help keep intersections clear. This work would remove 3 on-street parking spaces on Scotts Road.
- Painting new road markings and setting up signage for the new crossings. This could include speed bump signs, keep left signs, and orange reflective signs.
Download the proposal drawing for Alfriston Road and Scotts Road. (PDF 2.76MB)
We are suggesting these changes to improve road safety, especially for people walking. There have been several crashes at this location, including two that injured people crossing the road.
This proposed raised crossing with traffic lights is a new kind of crossing for Auckland. It's meant to lower speeds and risks on roads to protect people.
The traffic lights and signs will warn drivers of the crossing. The raised speed bump will slow all drivers near the crossing. This will make it safe for everyone on the road. The gentle slopes exiting the crossing will make it comfortable to drive over.
The proposed island in the middle of Scotts Road would give people a safe place to wait while crossing.
The crossing will also have short kerb ramps. These will make it easy for people with prams or wheelchairs to move between the footpath and the street.
We know that removing parking spaces can be inconvenient. But parked cars could stop drivers and people at the crossing from seeing each other. We're removing these spaces to make sure people can cross safely.
You can also mail us your feedback. Download and print our feedback form and fill it out with your information. Then, send it to us freepost using the address on the form.
What happens next
- We’ll listen to all the feedback we receive, and then decide the best next steps.
- We’ll post the outcome of this proposal and a summary of your feedback on this webpage.
- We can email you the proposal outcome as soon as it’s ready. Just select that option when you fill in the survey.
More information
This proposal is supported in part by the Auckland regional fuel tax.
Manurewa: 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 Alfriston Road and Scotts 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).