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Weymouth Road and Roscommon Road, Manurewa – Intersection improvements Weymouth Road and Roscommon Road, Manurewa – Intersection improvements

Proposal status: Closed

Reference number: NOP2021-019

Proposal outcome

In August 2021, we proposed some changes to the Weymouth Road and Roscommon Road roundabout in Manurewa. These changes were designed in response to our investigation into congestion and pedestrian safety concerns at the intersection.

The roundabout is a busy one in the area, with an average of over 39,000 cars a day passing through the intersection. After reviewing all your feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed. These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.

What happens next

We plan to construct the changes in the 2022/23 financial year, between July 2022 and June 2023. We will be in touch with nearby residents and businesses again once we have construction dates.

Community feedback

Thank you for adding your voice to this proposal. Most respondents supported the proposed changes overall and told us about their concerns about congestion and safety at the intersection.

Through the consultation process, we heard some questions and concerns from residents. These were mostly about the proposed pedestrian crossings, the additional lane, and the impact of the proposed changes on traffic flow. We have summarised the comments and queries we received and responded to each below.

Lane changes

  • The proposal will make the roundabout more confusing and dangerous for drivers.
    Two lanes in the roundabout are not necessary between Roscommon Road and Mahia Road and would make it more dangerous.
    The design clearly has a clear designation of lanes and shouldn't be confusing to drivers. The narrower lanes and raised tables on the roads into the roundaboout will reduce vehicle speeds in the roundabout and encourage safer driving through the intersection.
    The additional lane on Roscommon Road and Weymouth Road will make the intersection more efficient. This will relieve the congestion drivers experience on the roads into the roundabout.
  • Mahia Road also needs two lanes as the road get backed up at peak times.
    We looked at various options when we investigated how we could improve the roundabout's overall operations. These options included creating two lanes on Mahia Road.
    Through traffic modelling, we found that two lanes on Roscommon Road and Weymouth Road (east) would be the most efficient option. Additional lanes on Mahia Road wouldn't improve the flow of traffic or reduce congestion at the intersection. 
  • Reserve the left-hand lane coming out of Roscommon Road for turning onto Weymouth Road (eastern exit) only, like the left-hand lane between Weymouth and Mahia is reserved for exiting to Mahia Road only.
    We investigated this option, but found that it would create traffic flow issues and conflict with project goals.
    One of the main goals of this project is to relieve congestion. But congestion would increase compared to the proposed design if we only allowed vehicles to turn onto the Weymouth eastern exit. That's because at present, the lane can be used by any drivers exiting on Weymouth Road (east) or Mahia Road. The left-hand lane between Weymouth and Mahia is reserved only for drivers exiting at Mahia Road because the lane ends at Mahia Road.

Parking

  • Concern about removing parking spaces, which will impact parents and guardians who do school pick-up and drop-offs.
    This proposal has kept parking removal to a minimum. We've had to remove some on-street parking to ensure appropriate visibility for drivers and pedestrians at the roundabout and at the raised zebra crossings.
    We expect a minimal impact on school pick-up and drop-offs, as Finlayson Park School is still a fair distance away from where we proposed parking removal. 
  • Query about whether or not Mahia Road could be widened to accommodate parking.
    There is no need to widen Mahia Road, as there is currently space on the road for on-street parking.
    We do not usually consider widening a primarily residential road, as this kind of change is highly disruptive and expensive. The focus of this proposal is improving traffic flow through the intersection, which would not be improved by adding extra space for parked cars.

Pedestrian crossings

  • The proposed crossings are not necessary. Don't install raised zebra crossings.
    Only Weymouth Road (south access) and Palmers Road should have raised zebra crossings installed.
    The Weymouth Road (southern leg) and Mahia Road crossings are redundant because of the underpass.
    The proposed crossings will give pedestrians safe, direct connections in an area with schools, homes, and a shopping complex.
    The existing layout doesn't give people a safe way to cross all the roads at the intersection, and residents on the corner of Weymouth Road (south) and Mahia Road cannot access the underpass. Pedestrian surveys have found that the desire line (the path most people take) is across these roads.
    Our work prioritises the safety of all road users – drivers, pedestrians, cyclists – while working toward our Vision Zero goal.
  • The raised zebra crossings will create a safety hazard due to the acceleration and braking necessary right near the roundabout.
    We expect the raised crossings to improve safety at the intersection, because drivers will need to slow down as they approach it. This will increase driver awareness as they enter the roundabout. 
  • The Palmer Road, Weymouth Road, and Mahia Road new raised zebra crossings are too close to the turn off, which will cause nose-to-tail accidents.
    We will be installing additional signage to ensure drivers are aware of these raised crossings ahead of time and can slow their driving speeds appropriately. We do not expect an increase in nose-to-tail crashes.
    By design, the crossings will reduce drivers’ speed before entering the roundabout. If we moved the crossings back from the intersection, drivers could approach them at higher speeds. This would reduce the benefits of lower speeds and increased driver awareness as people drive through the roundabout. 
  • The proposed pedestrian crossings will increase safety risks for pedestrians by encouraging people to walk on the roads instead of taking the existing underpass.
    Improve the existing pedestrian underpass rather than installing raised zebra crossings.
    We designed the proposed pedestrian crossings to be safe for people to use. Raised zebra crossings are the safest type of pedestrian crossing. The crossings are raised to ensure people drive at a reduced speed near them, and we have ensured clear lines of sight between pedestrians and drivers.
    The access into and out of the underpass will be improved, and the raised zebra crossings are needed to provide direct safe crossing points on all legs. 
  • Improve drainage in the pedestrian underpass.
    We will investigate stormwater drainage in the underpass in the next stage of this project.

Traffic flow

  • The proposal will worsen congestion through this roundabout.
    As part of the investigation and design process, our network optimisation engineers carried out traffic modelling. This showed that this proposal will improve the overall flow of vehicles through this intersection. 
  • The second lane will have a limited positive impact on the long queues of waiting traffic at the roundabout on both sides of Weymouth Road, Mahia Road and Palmers Road in the morning and evening rush hours.
    Our traffic modelling showed improvements to the congestion on Roscommon Road and Weymouth Road east, and minimal impacts on the other legs of the roundabout. Overall, the number of cars that can travel through the roundabout will increase. This will reduce wait times on the roads leading into the intersection. 
  • The changes will slow traffic through the roundabout.
    We are looking at improving both the efficiency and safety of the roundabout. Reduced speeds through the roundabout will be safer for all road users and have limited impacts on individual travel times and congestion. 
  • Remove the large strip of grass that runs the length of Roscommon Road and provide two lanes in both directions to help ease congestion.
    Changing the road layout on Roscommon Road is outside this project's focus area, which is to improve the roundabout which serves five roads in and out of the intersection. 
  • This proposal is unnecessary because the existing layout functions well.
    We identified multiple issues across various modes of transport - driving, cycling, and walking - at this roundabout. That's why this proposal is an important project for the area.
    Problems with congestion and a lack of safe options for pedestrians must be addressed, so the roundabout can work efficiently and safely for everyone with somewhere to go, no matter the mode of transport they choose.

Other

  • The proposal does not make any provisions for cyclists in a very busy intersection.
    When investigating improvements at this intersection, our engineers looked carefully into how the safety of cyclists could be improved. The proposal links the Roscommon / Weymouth roundabout to existing cycling facilities and paths. Cyclists will also be able to use the current bypass, which is a shared path with pedestrians, or the proposed raised zebra crossings. 
  • Signpost the raised zebra crossings if cyclists are supposed to use them.  
    Thank you for your suggestion. We will look into this at the next stage, as we finalise the details of the design. 
  • Do construction in multiple stages to reduce the impact on businesses and tradespeople.
    We know roadworks can cause disruptions. That's why we'll look at how we can effectively carry out construction to minimise any negative impacts on the community. If you have any concerns or questions about the work when construction takes place, please call us on 09 355 3553.
  • The funding for this proposal would be better spent toward a light rail system (or similar) because no proposal will fix traffic flow issues as housing becomes denser.
    This project addresses issues at the roundabout for more than one mode of transport, not just personal vehicles like cars. It also creates improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, which will be even more important as the area's population grows. 
  • The funding for this project would be better spent on resurfacing the nearby roads and filling in potholes.
    AT has separate funding for road maintenance like filling in potholes. If you see issues like this, please help be our eyes in your community and log a maintenance request here.
  • The proposal is not future-proofed and will not solve the underlying problems.
    We carefully looked at improvements for all modes of transport at this roundabout by using our Future Connect tool. We believe that the proposed changes will create significant improvements for the area. This project also does not preclude any future work that we might carry out. 

We're proposing improvements in your area

As a result of an investigation into congestion on Weymouth Road and Roscommon Road, Manurewa, we are proposing to increase the number of traffic lanes entering the roundabout on these roads. At the same time, we will install raised zebra crossings on all legs of the roundabout and build new paths to better connect with the existing underpass. This work would improve safety for people crossing the road and on bikes. 

We are proposing to:  

  • Create two-lane entrances to the roundabout on Roscommon Rd and Weymouth Rd east by reducing the width of the grass verge and traffic islands on these roads. 
  • Paint new road markings to help drivers safely navigate the roundabout. 
  • Install zebra crossings raised on a platform level with the footpath, and with a gentle exit slope, on each leg of the roundabout. Each new raised crossing will be built to the current AT standard and include: 
  • New side and centre islands, so people crossing can see the road clearly and have a safe place to wait in the middle of the road. 
  • New streetlights and signs, including orange reflective discs to help make the crossings more visible. 
  • New road markings to help guide drivers safely over the raised tables.  
  • New sections of the footpath with tactile pavers to help guide people with low vision to the correct place to cross. 
  • Connect new sections of shared paths to the existing underpass to make it safer for people walking and on bikes to move around the intersection. 
  • Remove a total of approximately 24 car parking spaces. We know removing car parks is inconvenient and aim to minimise the loss. 3-5 spaces near each zebra crossing will be removed to ensure people crossing the road and drivers can clearly see each other. 

Download proposal drawing

Auckland Transport would like to work with you to deliver safer roads in your neighbourhood. This intersection is a busy bus route and is close to many schools, shops and community facilities. On average, over 30,000 vehicles use Roscommon Road each day and over 13,300 use Weymouth Road east. Congestion here has become a problem and to cross the road, people must use the underpass in the middle of the roundabout. Creating two traffic lanes on Weymouth and Roscommon Roads would help reduce the number of cars waiting to turn on these roads. Installing raised zebra crossings would provide new, safe places to cross the road on each leg of the roundabout. Drivers would need to slow down as they approach, and it would be easier for people crossing the road and drivers to see each other. The new sections of shared cycle- and footpath will join up with the existing paths, creating better walking and cycling connections through the area. 

What happens next 

  • We’ll consider 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. 

More information 

  • This proposal is supported 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 Roscommon Road and Weymouth 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).