Skip to main content

Rimu Street and Rata Street, New Lynn - Intersection upgrade Rimu Street and Rata Street, New Lynn - Intersection upgrade

Proposal status: Feedback closed 8 November 2019, last updated 20 April 2021.

Reference number: RSU1920-101

Proposal update 20 April 2021

We advised you in November 2020 that these works were to be constructed before the end of the 2022 financial year.

This project now has a construction target of April 2021.

Next Steps

Our contractors will send notices to residents or businesses affected by works 48 hours before it starts. We may need to delay the work or make other plans if the weather is poor or the contractor changes. If this happens, we will contact you again.

Proposal update November 16 2020.

We advised you in December 2019 that these works were scheduled to be constructed before June 2021. Unfortunately, construction of this project will not happen during this financial year due to the impact of COVID-19. This project is dependent on the level of funding we receive from Auckland Council and this year’s funding has been reduced due to COVID-19. Planning and design will continue but currently many projects, including this project, cannot be delivered in the 2020/2021 financial year.

This project now has a construction target of 2021/22 financial year. We’ll write to you again next year with more detail about the commencement of works.

We've proposed changes in your area

In October 2019, we proposed to install new traffic signals at Rimu Street and Rata Street in New Lynn. This involves adding pedestrian crossings with signals on all three legs of the intersection, new road markings and signs to support the crossings, and “Keep Clear” road markings at the intersection of Caspian Close and Rata Street.

This project is made possible by the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax.

Download the proposal drawing for Rimu Street and Rata Street (PDF 4MB)

Why the changes are needed

We’ve undertaken an investigation which has identified this area as a high-risk intersection. There have been multiple accidents caused by unsafe turns into and out of Rimu Street. We expect that new traffic signals will improve driver and pedestrian safety by providing clear crossing points and directing safe turning movements.

Proposal outcome

The proposed changes will proceed to the next stage of detailed planning before being constructed. Thank you to everyone who responded to our proposal and gave us the chance to better understand your community and concerns. A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below.

Community feedback

  • Respondents supported the proposal as it would improve pedestrian safety.
    Thank you for your feedback, we are pleased to hear you believe the proposal will benefit pedestrians in this area.
  • Request for additional broken yellow lines on Caspian Close to prevent cars parking on the footpath.
    Thank you for the feedback. We will forward your request to the appropriate team for their investigation.
  • Request for animal/duck crossing signs near at the Rimu Street and Binstead Road intersection.
    Thank you for the feedback. We will investigate and include the animal/duck crossing sign near Rimu St as part of this project if deemed necessary.

Signals and congestion

  • Respondents expressed concern that long traffic light phasing at Rata Street and Great North Road intersection is contributing to congestion.
    Thank you for the feedback. The Rata Street and Great North Road Intersection is monitored daily and the signal phasing and timing is adjusted as required to ensure efficient operation. We have undertaken a traffic modelling assessment to understand the impact of the proposal on the intersection performance and it is predicted to operate at a similar level of service.
    We also wish to highlight that the purpose of the proposed signalisation is to address the safety issues identified at the intersection. Rata Street/Rimu Street is a high-risk intersection and requires for safety intervention changes. This intersection is also identified by NZTA’s prioritised list for safety improvement.
  • Request for signal phasing at the Rata Street and Rimu Street intersection to only allow movement from one road at a time. 
    We are unable to grant this request as it would negatively impact operation and efficiency of the intersection. The planned signal phasing will ensure that the intersection operates at an appropriate level of service.
  • Request to relocate proposed signal pole near the driveway at 19 Rata Street south near the existing street sign.
    We have reviewed the current design and it seems that the suggested pole relocation may be feasible provided it doesn’t obstruct the visibility of the signal lanterns and road signage. We will undertake a further detailed assessment in the next stage of the project and keep you informed.

Pedestrian crossing

  • Request to limit changes to reshaping the traffic island on Rimu Street.
    Changes to the traffic island are necessary to support safer turning movements out of Rimu Street.
  • Request to remove the pedestrian crossing on Rimu Street.
    We wish to advise that the purpose of the pedestrian crossing on Rimu Street is to provide a safe crossing facility for the community at a busy intersection. Our investigation indicates that there are pedestrian crossing demands across Rimu St near Rata Street/Rimu Street intersection so we will not remove this part of our proposal.
  • Concern if proposed crossing will be a diagonal crossing.
    We can clarify that the crossing will not be a diagonal crossing.

Requests that are part of future works

Respondents raised multiple issues that will be addressed as part of future planned works in this area. More information about these works will be made available once initial plans are finalised.

  • Request for barriers on Rimu Street and Caspian Close, including soft posts and concrete islands.
  • Request for marked pedestrian crossings at Kaponga Crescent and Caspian Close.
  • Request for 'Keep Clear' markings at the Rata Street and Kaponga Crescent intersection.
  • Request for a right-turn arrow marking at the Rata Street and Kaponga Crescent intersection.
  • Request for a signal controlling turns into and out of Kaponga Crescent.

Next steps

These works are planned before June 2021, but we will let you know if there are further changes or delays. Our contractors will send notices to affected residents 48-hours prior to construction starting.