Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout improvements Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout improvements
Auckland Transport (AT) is proposing changes to the Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout in Totara Vale, as well as other improvements on Sunset Road.
- Download the detailed design plans.
- Read the public feedback on the Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout improvements.
Project status: On hold - feedback closed 10 November 2019, last updated 1 September 2020
Project zone: North
Project overview
We are proposing changes to the Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout in Totara Vale, as well as other improvements on Sunset Road. The proposed changes include:
- additional traffic lanes on all legs of the roundabout. Space for the extra lanes is being created by:
- removing sections of on-street parking from the roundabout’s approaches and exits
- widening the road (kerb realignments on the east and north side of the roundabout)
- realigning the footpath.
- installation of Swedish Speed Tables on all the roundabouts approaches and exits.
- new pedestrian crossings over the Swedish Speed Tables. The pedestrian crossings include new pram crossings, and refuge islands halfway across the road. Pedestrians will still need to give-way to vehicles
- new footpath connections and footpath widening
- installation of new pram crossings and a pedestrian refuge island outside 78/59A Sunset Road
- changes to bus stops and shelters. This includes two sections of on-street parking removal on Sunset Road just north of Trias Road.
Download the detailed plans for the Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout improvements (PDF 4.7MB).
Benefits
- The additional lanes will reduce travel times and improve travel time reliability for all traffic.
- Reduced vehicle speeds will improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
- The pedestrian crossings, pram crossings and central refuge islands will improve pedestrian safety and accessibility.
- Footpath widening will improve pedestrian accessibility and improve footpath connections to bus stops.
Project details
Additional traffic lanes at the roundabout
Vehicles are experiencing significant delays travelling through this roundabout. The additional lanes will reduce travel times and improve travel time reliability for all traffic. This is important because vehicles are experiencing significant delays through this roundabout. It is estimated that the project will create the following travel time savings:
- AM traffic peak – average travel time saving of 1 minute 3 seconds. Maximum travel time saving of 4 minutes 7 seconds.
- PM traffic peak – average travel time saving of 1 minute 22 seconds. Maximum travel time saving of 8 minutes 32 seconds.
The project will also create significant benefit for buses because 17 buses per hour use the roundabout.
Swedish Speed Tables and pedestrian crossings
The speed tables will reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians. Swedish style speed tables are proposed because they provide a smoother ride than other speed calming devices. They also provide a raised platform across the road for the pedestrian crossings.
The pedestrian crossings, pram crossings and central refuge islands will improve pedestrian safety and accessibility, particularly for less abled people.
New footpath connections and footpath widening
These will improve pedestrian accessibility and improve footpath connections to bus stops.
New pedestrian facilities outside 78/59A Sunset Road
These will improve pedestrian safety and accessibility, particularly for less abled people and bus users.
Changes to bus stops and shelters
- Relocate the bus stop from outside 49B Sunset Road, to outside 51 Sunset Road (approximately 10m closer the roundabout) and install a new bus shelter. This will mean buses can enter the bus stop without being delayed by merging vehicles, as the stop is immediately at the end of the traffic lane. The bus stop is also being relocated to be paired with the proposed raised pedestrian crossing.
- Relocate the bus stop and shelter from outside 78 Sunset Road to outside 82 Sunset Road. The bus stop needs to be relocated to make room for the proposed pedestrian refuge island crossing.
- Upgrade the existing bus stop at 57A Sunset Rd to meet the Auckland Transport Code of Practice.
Parking removal
The removal of on-street parking is required to make space for the roundabout improvements and to ensure bus stops meet the Auckland Transport Code of Practice (mainly to make it easier for buses to pull up to and exit from the bus stops).
Observations of parking showed that on-street parking occupancy ranged from 17%-22% depending on the time of day. Displaced vehicles can easily be accommodated by on-street parking just beyond the project boundaries e.g. Sunset Road, Caribbean Drive, Target Road and Trias Road.
Public consultation
Public feedback
Last year, the public shared their views on plans to make improvements to the Sunset Road/Target Road roundabout in Sunnynook. We’d like to thank those who took the time to respond and for played an important part in shaping the future of our city. The main points the public raised about the proposal were:
- Project needs to include safe cycle facilities
- Proposal creates a road layout that is less safe for people on bikes
- Want project to include priority crossings for pedestrians, such as zebra crossings over the speed tables
- Concerns with dual traffic lanes entering and exiting the roundabout (want single lane roundabout)
- Proposal makes it less safe for pedestrians
- Don’t believe the design meets Auckland Transport’s new design principles.
Next steps
After listening to all the feedback and investigating alternative design options we have decided not to proceed with the proposal at this stage. Investigations into alternative design options found that there were no design options that could be accommodated within the project budget that would address the community’s concerns while still significantly improving bus journey times.
COVID 19 has impacted on our budgets so at this time there is no additional funding available to progress a revised design that addresses the communities concerns and improves bus journey times. However, a revised version of this project will be considered again in future when more funding is available. If the project re-emerges we will seek feedback from the public on the revised design option(s).