Gills Road Link Gills Road Link
CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO 2030-35.
To support major population growth in Auckland, Auckland Transport (AT) will design and build a new link road between Gills Road and Oteha Valley Road.
- Read about the project benefits.
- Read about the project details.
- Read about the construction details.
Project status: Design
Project zone: North
Project overview
Auckland is experiencing major population growth, which is placing huge demand on housing and transport infrastructure. The rapid population growth is evident in the Albany area, which over the past 20 years has changed from a primarily rural settlement on the fringe of Auckland city, to a growing urbanised environment with a number of residential developments.
Three key roading projects are planned in the area, including the Gills Road Link. The road will improve connectivity and safe access for the growing residential areas served by these roads as well as providing improved walking and cycling facilities.
Following consultation in 2011 on five route options, the project was designated in 2014, to protect the selected route from any future developments. AT is now preparing its ‘specimen design’ and a suite of documents (e.g. environmental, urban design, noise mitigation, stormwater treatment options) required for the Outline Plan and resource consent application.
View the Gills Road indicative layout map (PDF 3.3MB)
Benefits
- Delivering essential public infrastructure to support residential and traffic growth in the Gills Road area and north of Oteha Valley Road.
- Improved walking and cycling facilities.
- Improved journey times and safety outcomes by directing traffic away from the intersection of Gills Road and Dairy Flat Highway and the single-lane bridge at the southern end of Gills Road.
- Improved connectivity and safe access for the growing communities and developments serviced by Gills Road and Oteha Valley Road.
- Once works are finished, areas of the reserve currently difficult to reach, will be opened up and general public access will be improved.
Timeline
- 2008 – North Shore City Council investigates options.
- 2011 – Auckland Transport investigation phase – Scheme Assessment Report of preferred option.
- 2011 – Public consultation of four route options.
- 2013 – Notice of Requirement (NOR) for a designation of the preferred route.
- 2014 – Designation confirmed.
- Nov 2017 to June 2018 – Specimen design of route.
- June 2018 – Resource consents lodged with Auckland Council.
- 2020 - June/July – strategic review of the Gills Road Link project. This involves working in collaboration with the Dairy Flat Highway Improvements project, to improve network efficiencies and other transport improvements for Albany Village. This review is expected to be completed by August 2020, and there is currently no fixed date for construction to start on the Gills Road/Oteha Valley Road link project.
- August 2021 - Following completion of the strategic review of the combined Dairy Flat Highway Improvements Project and Gills Road Link Project Auckland Transports Board endorsed deferring consideration of the proposed Gills Link Road until 2030-2035.
Project details
The project involves:
- A new two-lane road approximately 300m in length between Oteha Valley Road and Gills Road, as well as some changes to the existing Gills Road.
- The road will connect south of the Gills Road/Living Stream Road intersection and join Oteha Valley Road at the intersection with Appian Way. The intersection of Appian Way/Oteha Valley will be upgraded at a later stage.
- Re-grading and re-alignment of Gills Road from its intersection with Living Stream Road to where a new intersection with the road link will be formed – approximately 100m south of Living Stream Road.
- As the new link road will traverse parts of Gills Reserve, Lucas Creek and Hooton Reserve a bridge of approximately 140m will be constructed. The bridge will avoid direct impacts on Lucas Creek and minimise the extent of the vegetation affected.
- Retaining walls and slope stabilisation to support the elevated road due to the steep terrain through the reserve.
- Existing access through the reserve will be maintained under the bridge.
View the Gills Road Link 3D map (PDF 1.3MB)
Construction effects
There will be associated noise and vibration, which may be disruptive to people living nearby. This will be most apparent during specific phases of construction, such as excavation which may require rock ripping. Auckland Transport will monitor noise and vibration throughout the construction period and will have plans in place to mitigate these effects as much as possible.
Environmental effects
The route selected during the 2012 community consultation offered the lowest level of adverse ecological effects out of the options presented; although removal of some vegetation within the reserve area is required. Auckland Transport will have approved management plans in place to mitigate the effects of construction.
Mitigation includes extensive replanting in other parts of the reserve, the improvement of storm-water management, the relocation of any indigenous fauna, for example lizards, and timing the works so they do not interfere with native bird nesting.
Construction phases
Construction will be undertaken in phases over a two-year period. More information will be available once consent approvals are gained. The first phase will be the removal of vegetation as part of early enabling earthworks.
Traffic management
Traffic management will be in place with some lane restrictions required throughout construction.
Hours of work
Typically, works will occur between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday with generally no noisy works on Sundays, public holidays or at night time. However, if an occasion arises where we need to work outside of these hours you will be provided with advance notification.
Community engagement
Consultation on the preferred on the route was completed in 2012. Auckland Transport will liaise closely with neighbouring properties throughout the construction period.