Taharoto-Wairau Road upgrade Taharoto-Wairau Road
The upgrade of the Taharoto-Wairau road corridor is now virtually complete. The Wairau Road/Forrest Hill Road and Nile Road/Forrest Hill Road intersections have been upgraded and the old Wairau Creek Bridge has been replaced.
Project zone: North
Project purpose
The project provides significant improvements to two intersections: Wairau Road/Forrest Hill Road and Nile Road/Forrest Hill Road.
- Replaced 1939 bridge
- New traffic lights at the Nile Road/Forrest Hill Road intersection, including a new signalised pedestrian crossing across Nile Road
- Undergrounding of telecommunication and power lines and ducting for future ultra-fast broadband services
- Upgraded watermain network
- On-road cycle lanes for commuters and off-road lanes around schools
- Larger and better quality footpaths and additional pedestrian islands
The $4.2 million improvements were part of the seven-stage Taharoto-Wairau Road upgrade started in 2006 under the former North Shore City Council.
Benefits
BenefitsThe upgrade bought a number of other benefits for all road users. These include:
- Replacement of an outdated bridge that allows for increased road capacity;
- Additional traffic lanes to help ease congestion;
- On-road cycle lanes for commuters and confident cyclists;
- Off-road cycle lanes around school areas to cater for younger and less experienced cyclists;
- Larger and better quality footpaths;
- Additional pedestrian islands to help people cross the road safely;
- Landscaping and undergrounding of overhead power and telecommunication lines to improve the look of the area;
- Improved intersections due to the installation of traffic lights and additional marked lanes;
- Resurfacing of the road for a smoother journey.
Milestones
2012/13 - December 2012 stages 5 and 6 start. May - halfway mark
2012/13 - Wairau Bridge and traffic island completed. Commissioning of new traffic signals on Wairau, Forrest Hill and Nile Roads
2013/14 - New road and bridge finished and open for use December 2013
2013/14 - Minor works finished, project completed
Project details
The intersection improvements and bridge replacement are part of the seven-stage Taharoto-Wairau Road Upgrade started in 2006 under the former North Shore City Council.
Four stages have been completed:
- A section of Wairau Road outside Westlake Girls High School
- The Wairau Road/Shakespeare Road/Taharoto Road intersection
- A section of between Shakespeare and Northcote Roads
- Improvements to Shakespeare Road and the North Shore Hospital
The main project works include:
- replacement of the Wairau Creek Bridge to allow for increased road capacity
- additional traffic lanes to help ease congestion
- on-road cycle lanes for commuters and confident cyclists
- off-road cycle lanes around school areas
- larger and better quality footpaths
- additional pedestrian islands
- undergrounding of overhead power and telecommunication lines
- traffic lights and additional marked lanes at intersections
- road resurfacing
- landscaping
Key fact
- $5.4 million cost
- 7 stages - one yet to be delivered
- New bridge caters for a 100 - year flood
- New bridge structure has six piles each over a metre wide and 24m deep
- 14 precast beams each spanning about 20 metres and weighing more than 20 tonnes
Taharoto/Wairau stage 3
Stage 3 is the final stage of the wider program which was delayed due to the land take from Atlas concrete. The project aimed to improve the operation, efficiency and safety of the area for all road users, including Public transport, Walking and Cycling. Essentially stage 3 is the road corridor widening of the eastern side of Wairau road to provide for a bus lane, cycle lane and wider footpath.
Project details
Objectives:
- Improve capacity by creating a bus lane to Smales Farms.
- Improve walking and cycling facilities.
- Improve safety for all road users.
Scope:
- Dedicated bus lane that ties into existing facilities and primarily serves the Smales Farm Bus Station.
- Wider footpaths and new cycle facilities to improve safety and promote alternative modes of transport.
- Undergrounding of overhead services such as power and telecommunication lines to improve safety, aesthetics and upgrade old services.
Milestones
April 2018 - Completion of Prelim Design and DBC
July 2018 – Award Detailed Design
September 2018 – Completion of Detailed Design
November 2018 – Start Construction
May 2019 – Completion of Construction