Skip to main content

Manukau Rd, Epsom - Pedestrian safety improvements Manukau Rd, Epsom - Pedestrian safety improvements

Consultation status: closed 20 March 2018

Proposal reference: MIP1718-242

We are proposing changes to pedestrian facilities on Manukau Road from the intersection with Green Lane West to Campbell Crescent.

  • Green Lane West to Queen Mary Avenue:
    • Install a pedestrian refuge.
    • Lengthen the right turn lane to discourage pedestrians from utilising the flush median to cross.
  • Queen Mary Avenue to King Edward Avenue:
    • Install a signalised mid-block pedestrian crossing.
  • King Edward Avenue to King George Avenue:
    • Install a traffic island south of King George Avenue intersection to meet pedestrian crossing demand.
  • King George Avenue to Campbell Crescent:
    • Convert traffic island on Campbell Crescent (southern intersection) to a pedestrian refuge.
  • Campbell Crescent intersection:
    • Install a pedestrian refuge on Campbell Crescent (northern intersection).
    • Extend the No stopping at all times parking restrictions (broken yellow lines) on Manukau Road north of the intersection to improve the visibility for vehicles travelling out of Campbell Crescent.
    • Install 'Keep Clear' line markings on Manukau Road at the northern intersection with Campbell Crescent to improve the visibility of any vulnerable road users travelling along the T2 Lane and queuing.

Download the consultation drawing for Manukau Road (PDF 1.4MB)

This proposal aims to improve pedestrian safety along Manukau Road by providing additional crossing facilities and reducing conflict with turning cars. A review of crash data and site observations show that pedestrians are using the existing flush median to cross Manukau Road, coming into conflict with cars also using the flush median to turn.

Vehicles travelling at higher speeds in the kerb-side T2 lane are also causing safety issues for pedestrians.

The proposed crossing facilities, refuge islands and ‘Keep Clear’ road markings are intended to better facilitate safer pedestrian crossings at specific locations along the route.

Feedback

The proposal received positive feedback with some concerns raised by respondents. After reviewing this feedback and all other supporting evidence, the proposal will proceed without changes to the next stage of detailed planning.

Specific feedback

  • Suggestion for parking to be restricted between 6am and 6pm. On street parking is not allowed during peak hours along Manukau Road. Further parking restrictions may be implemented in the near future.
  • Suggestion that parking be removed from one side of Campbell Crescent to alleviate issues at school start and finish times. This is outside the scope area. The limited amount of parking removal on Campbell Crescent was proposed only to achieve the required crossing sight distance.
  • Recommendation that parking between King George Avenue and Corbett Scott Avenue should not be allowed at any time. This is outside the scope of this project and it will require further investigation and site observation before implementing changes. We are is investigating further parking restrictions on major arterials and this can be incorporated as part of this programme.
  • Feels that permanent removal of already limited parking options for residents does not meet the needs of the community. The removal of parking is essential to achieve the minimum sight distance required for vehicles turning out of Campbell Crescent and pedestrians crossing the road at this location. We tried to minimise the loss of parking but this is required to ensure that drivers and pedestrians have enough sight distance to make a decision to turn or cross.
  • Does not feel the crossing needs signalising; feels a median refuge should be installed until a review is carried out to establish a need for the crossing. A pedestrian refuge is likely to encourage pedestrians to cross between queuing vehicles, which may put them at risk of a collision with a free flowing vehicle using the T3 lane. This is a similar scenario to the pedestrian crashes for the flush median, which is being addressed.
  • Recommends that the proposed crossing is moved approximately 70 metres north so it is further from the crossing that already exists and closer to the school, bus stop and Burger King. The location of the midblock crossing was selected following pedestrian crossing surveys to identify the pedestrian desire line and other site considerations such as the location of driveways and other infrastructure.
  • Objection to proposed changes to the Campbell Crescent/Manukau Road/Kimberly Road intersection as feels this footpath has little usage; feels the design is flawed from a traffic flow perspective and the low number of pedestrians do not warrant the changes here. This is a road safety scheme and the scope of this project is to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity. According to the pedestrian surveys there are a number of pedestrians and cyclists that cross the road at this location. The existing layout at this location exposes pedestrians to a significant crash risk when crossing the road. The proposed improvements will help reduce the crossing distance, improve crossing sight distance and reduce vehicle entry speeds.
  • Feels the traffic island might not discourage people from crossing here as it is in line with the bus stop; suggests pillars at either ends to give pedestrians protection. Pillars do not provide any protection to pedestrians as they are designed to be frangible and break away if struck by vehicles. Providing pillars may encourage pedestrians to use the traffic island as a crossing point as it may be perceived safer by pedestrians. The aim of the traffic island is to prevent vehicles using the flush median to avoid long queues to turn right on Green Lane West. The conversion of the flush median (south of the proposed traffic island) to a right turn lane will certainly discourage pedestrians from crossing the road at this location. Pedestrians will be at risk if they choose to cross at this location as a number of pedestrians crashes have happened when pedestrians cross between queuing vehicles and step onto the T3 lane where vehicles struggle to see them and react in a safe manner.
  • Querying if there is there any merit in having a similar “keep clear” area at Kimberley/Manukau Roads? According to crash data and queues at this location, keep clear markings are not required. We will keep monitoring the intersection to see if keep clear markings will be required.
  • Request for additional works including
    • Feedback that the parking restrictions outside 337 Manukau Road should have had the driveways marked.
    • Request to reinstate the No Right Hand Turn into the Caltex petrol station and Burger King.

If you would like your request to be considered by us for future development works, please provide feedback here.

Next steps

We expect to introduce this work between July 2018 and June 2019, subject to further changes in design or funding issues.

Contractors will issue 48-hour notices to all affected residents prior to construction work.