Birkenhead Avenue and Onewa Road intersection optimisation
We’re creating smoother journeys for everyone who travels through this busy intersection.
On this page
Project details
Start date
2025End date
2027Location
Birkenhead, AucklandTransport involved
Walking, driving and busOverview
If you’ve ever sat in traffic at the Birkenhead Avenue and Onewa Road intersection, you’re not alone. Around 45,000 people pass through here every day – and during the morning rush, almost 3,000 of us are trying to get through every hour. That includes up to 52 buses, packed with commuters heading to work, school, or wherever they need to be.
It’s a busy spot. And as more people move into the area, it’s only going to get busier.
To ease the pressure and make everyone’s journey smoother – whether you drive, bus or walk – we’re planning some low-cost improvements we can make quickly.
What we'll be changing
The confirmed improvements we will deliver are:
- extra turning lanes from both sides of Birkenhead Avenue to Onewa Road
- a continuous T3 lane linking Birkenhead Avenue to Onewa Road from the north
- new T3 entry lanes from Birkenhead Avenue south and Highbury Bypass
- a new signalised pedestrian crossing and slip island on the northeast corner of the intersection (by Zion Hill Methodist Church)
- upgrading the traffic lights and pedestrian signals with smart technology
- more road markings to help guide traffic through the new intersection layout.
This plan was endorsed by the Kaipātiki Local Board at their June business meeting. It has also been endorsed by the local councillors.
Next steps
Our contractors will carry out some site checks around the intersection, including along selected kerbs, footpaths and driveways. This work will help us confirm the details we need to finalise our construction plan and schedule for next year.
We are currently on track to begin work in mid-2027. We'll notify the community as soon as we have confirmed the construction timelines. We look forward to delivering this project for the community and creating better journeys for everyone who travels here.
Timeline
Early feedback with Onewa Road project engagement
We gathered some early community feedback on our ideas for this project while we were engaging on the Onewa Road corridor optimisation project. This feedback helped inform our proposed design.
Community engagement
We shared our proposed design for this project and invited people to tell us how the changes might impact their journey. We also asked if there’s anything else we’re missing.
Review community feedback and finalise design plans
We reviewed the community feedback, shared the key themes, and now have a final design plan. Based on the feedback, we added more road markings to our design to help people navigate the new intersection layout.
Construction
We have started planning for construction and are tracking to deliver in mid-2027. Construction will likely take about four months. We’ll share more details as soon as we have a confirmed schedule and plan.
Project designs
Birkenhead Avenue intersection project design plan
Community feedback
Project benefits
More reliable bus services
Smoother traffic flow on to Onewa Road
More room to turn
Safer crossing for pedestrians
Project background
When we asked for public feedback on our plans to improve traffic flow along the Onewa Road corridor earlier this year, we also invited people to give their feedback on what we were considering for this project. We got some great suggestions on how we could further enhance the design.
Here’s what people told us and how it informed our plan:
Highbury Bypass T3 entry lane
People agreed that adding new T3 entry lanes on both sides of Birkenhead Avenue would help improve traffic flow around the Onewa Road T3 lane entrance.
They said Highbury Bypass could also use a T3 entry lane to help buses coming from that direction flow better into the Onewa Road T3 lane.
We’ve added one to the design.
Clearer lane markings
People told us it’s not always clear which lane is for which direction when they’re approaching the intersection from some directions.
Sometimes this results in people getting stuck in the wrong lane or having to change lanes at the last second.
We’ll make sure all the new lane markings are clear and there is plenty of signs to help queue in the correct lane no matter what direction they’re travelling.
Pedestrian safety
Many people told us pedestrian safety is a big concern at this intersection, especially given the number of students and families that walk here in big groups.
To make sure it stays safe for people of all ages, abilities and group sizes to cross the intersection we are:
- Upgrading the crossing to the northeast corner slip island (in front of Zion Hill Methodist Church) from a zebra crossing to a signalised crossing. Turning traffic will have a full stop when it’s pedestrians’ turn to cross.
- Making sure the new northeast corner slip island we’re building has the same amount of useable space as the old one. We’ll do this by minimising the number of power and sign poles that could take up space for people walking.
- Including yellow tactile pavers with slip-resistant paint and ramps on the northeast corner crossing so that it’s more accessible.
- Keeping the footpaths wherever we’re doing kerb changes the same width as much as possible. Footpath widths will stay the same on all but a small part in front of Zion Hill Reserve. Here, it will only be about a metre smaller.
- Adding smart technology to the pedestrian crossing signals along with the traffic lights. The technology will be able to sense when large groups are waiting and give them more time to cross.
Room for large vehicles to turn
Some people were not sure if there was enough space for two turning lanes from both sides of Birkenhead Avenue to Onewa Road, especially if the turning vehicle was large, such as a heavy truck.
With the kerb changes we’re making, there will be plenty of room for large vehicles to turn. We’re also including guiding lines to help everyone stay on track when they’re turning.
To learn more about what people said, download the Onewa Road public feedback report (PDF 186KB).
Check out this video to learn more about how the smart traffic light technology we're installing at the intersection will help keep everyone moving.
Smart Traffic Light Technology | AT
Auckland Network Optimisation aims to make Auckland’s network more effective. It will do this by improving and providing effective travel choices and road safety. It is a joint programme between Auckland Transport and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
As Auckland continues to grow, so does our need to move more people and goods more efficiently. We also need to build resilience in both existing and new communities.
Aucklanders have told us they want a transport system that:
- is convenient, well-connected, accessible and reliable
- moves them around if they choose to drive, walk, ride a train, bus, bike or ferry.
To keep our city moving, we are making smarter, more dynamic use of our roads, footpaths and cycleways. New transport infrastructure is important but it’s also expensive. We’re adopting new technologies and systems to use our limited space and funding better.
We look at making relatively inexpensive and quick changes to our roads and paths to:
- improve efficiency, safety and agility
- support economic growth outcomes
- reduce reliance on only major infrastructure to improve our transport network.
Small strategic changes, such as converting existing lanes to new bus or transit lanes, keep people and goods moving. These changes also support reliable public transport which contributes to a more connected, healthier city.
We will work with the community to deliver on transport initiatives that benefit all road users. Whether taking kids to schools, getting to and from work, cycling in the park, going shopping or heading to events, we're part of your life.
We're working to shape our city and provide transport choices for a growing, vibrant Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.