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Proposed changes to improve congestion near Auckland Hospital Proposed changes to improve congestion near Auckland Hospital

Date: 13 November 2025

Anyone travelling along Park Road near Auckland Hospital during the day likely knows the frustration: slow-moving traffic and long delays between 10am and 2pm.

This stretch of road becomes a major bottleneck for vehicles heading to the hospital, the Domain, or Newmarket - turning a short trip into a significant wait.

That’s why Auckland Transport (AT) is proposing some improvements to Park Road that we believe will ease the ongoing gridlock along this vital route.

AT’s Chris Martin, General Manager of Road Network Operations, says Park Road must be optimised for better use.

“Park Road moves 13,500 people by car every weekday, and another 14,300 people by bus.

“During the day, a short journey along Park Road that should take only 30 seconds from the Grafton Road intersection to just past the traffic lights and outside the hospital entrance can take up to ten minutes.

“We’re even seeing some frustrated motorists resorting to unsafe driving behaviours, by driving on the wrong side of the road and into oncoming traffic.

“Our proposal aims to make the most of Park Road by using dynamic lane technology, and we want Aucklanders to have their say on how we go about this too,” he says.

What is AT proposing for Park Road to clear this congestion and make it safer?

  • A new dynamic lane layout between Grafton Road and the entrance to Auckland Hospital, which would operate Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm.
  • Electronic LED road markers on all three lanes between Grafton Road and the hospital entrance on Park Road.
  • Lights installed on two overhead gantries to control lane signs. There would be a green light when the bus lane is active, a green arrow (indicating which lane you can drive in), and a red cross (indicating where you cannot drive).
  • Dynamic bus lane signs on the side of the road that electronically indicate when the bus lane is active, and not in use.
  • Digital message signs for motorists turning onto Park Road from Seafield View Road and Park Avenue.
  • Digital messaging sign indicating parking availability for the hospital car park on Grafton Road.

How these proposed changes will improve traffic flow

AT’s Chris Martin says dynamic lane technology is key to unlocking Park Road from congestion.

“We only have a finite amount of space to work with on Park Road, with just three lanes of traffic including the existing bus lane, to funnel people to the hospital or beyond.

“Between Grafton Road and the hospital entrance, there is one eastbound lane towards Newmarket, and two lanes heading into the city.

“We want to be able to switch how these lanes are used and want the bus lane on Park Road to be turned into a dynamic lane for general traffic during a set time, and the other two lanes to service traffic heading towards the hospital entrance,” he says.

“We’re proposing these dynamic lanes, which would operate on weekdays between 10am and 2pm, would help keep traffic moving safely past the hospital and reduce unsafe driving behaviour.”

At all other times, two lanes will continue to be used for people heading to the city centre (one bus lane and one general vehicle lane).

AT’s proposal will not remove any of the 12 car parks outside the shops on the left-hand side of Park Road immediately before the Grafton Bridge.

Chris Martin says the changes would also give motorists a dedicated left turn into the hospital, and a dedicated lane to safely move past the hospital when it’s busy.

“One lane would still be available for people travelling to the city centre, though buses and cyclists will no longer have a dedicated lane heading towards the city for 200 metres in the dynamic lane zone on weekdays between 10am and 2pm.”

AT is working closely with Auckland Hospital to make these necessary changes

“Traffic can back up quickly along Park Road, and it’s imperative vehicles can have easy access to the hospital at all times of the day,” says Dr Michael Shepherd, Group Director of Operations Auckland, Health New Zealand.

“Our patients, staff and visitors should all expect to get in and out of Auckland Hospital safely and in good time, and we support these proposed improvements to Park Road to better improve this access.”

How can you have your say on the future of Park Road? 

AT invites you to provide feedback on the proposed Park Road changes at athaveyoursay.govt.nz. Feedback is open until 15 December 2025.