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Helvetia Road, Pukekohe - Footpath Helvetia Road, Pukekohe - Footpath

Proposal status: Closed

Reference number: T20026

Proposal outcome

In April 2022, we proposed changes to improve pedestrian safety on Helvetia Road, Pukekohe. These changes are in response to the need to fill in the missing footpath between 51B and 41 Helvetia Road.

After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the following minor changes:

  • Install a traffic island, which is a raised platform, on the corner of Helvetia Road and Hooper Avenue to keep drivers away from the new footpath.

These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.

Download the updated proposal drawing. (PDF 555KB)

What happens next

We anticipate the changes will be constructed in September 2022. We will be in touch with local residents and businesses before any construction takes place.

Community feedback

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge.

Most respondents supported this proposal. Here is a summary of the additional comments and queries we received, and our responses to them:

  • Suggestion to install speed bumps to lower speeds along Helvetia Road.
    Speed bumps are generally not recommended for roads wider than 10m, as their effectiveness becomes greatly reduced. We will pass the concern to the relevant team to investigate alternative ways to reduce speeds on Helvetia Road.
  • Concern over the safety of people on the new footpath on a narrower road due to speeding vehicles.
    We will install a traffic island on Helvetia Road near Hooper Avenue which will guide drivers away from the new footpath. The road is wide enough for drivers to stay within the traffic lane safely.
  • Suggestion to improve and repair the footpath on nearby Hooper Avenue.
    We have passed this onto our maintenance team for consideration in their renewals programme.

We're proposing improvements in your area

We are proposing to install a footpath to fill in the missing safe walking path between 51B and 41 Helvetia Road. 

We are proposing to:

  • Install a footpath along the north side of Helvetia Road from the Helvetia Road and Hooper Avenue corner to the driveway of 43 Helvetia Road.
  • Install new pram crossings, which are short ramps that make it easy to move from the footpath to the road, at the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Helvetia Road. We would install tactile pavers, which are textured yellow pavers that help visually impaired people to find their way safely across roads, on both corners of the intersection.
  • Extend the driveways at 47 to 49 and 43 Helvetia Road, where the footpath will be constructed on the road shoulder.
  • Install a fence along the vegetation at 43 Helvetia Road.
  • Paint broken yellow lines (no stopping at any time lines) in front of 41 to 51 Helvetia Road. This would remove 11 on-street parking spaces.

Download the proposal drawing for Helvetia Road (PDF 95.4KB)

These changes aim to provide the missing link in the footpaths between 51B and 41 Helvetia Road. Installing the footpath would ensure people have a safe and accessible place to walk in the neighbourhood. The proposed footpath would join up with the existing footpaths on Hooper Avenue and Helvetia Road.

In order to build a footpath along this section, we would need to build into the shoulder of the road, which is why we have proposed some parking removal in front of 43 Helvetia Road. Once the footpath is built, there won’t be enough space to safely park on the north side of the road. We understand that removing parking can be inconvenient, so we would only remove parking where it is necessary to ensure the traffic lanes and sightlines will not be blocked by parked cars.

What happens next

  • We’ll listen to all the feedback we receive, and then decide the best way to move forward.
  • We’ll post the outcome of this proposal and a summary of community 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.

Pukekohe: 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 Helvetia 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).