Wellington
City Council contractors have almost finished installing 105 new poles and
brighter LED lights on the other side of the road, and construction work is now
getting under way near the Aotea Quay overbridge.
Between
now and November, work will be carried out in sections of about 100 metres from
the overbridge to Caltex Fuel Stop, which will significantly improve the
existing shared path adjacent to the road.
The
new poles on the western side of the road have long outreach arms and brighter
lights.
Cr
Sarah Free, the Council’s Portfolio Leader for Public Transport, Cycling and
Walking, says it is great to see the transformation work on the shared path
getting under way.
“This
$4.5 million project is all part of improving the city’s cycling and pedestrian
network, giving people more travel choices, and making Wellington an even more
sustainable and appealing place to live,” she says.
“The
Hutt Road is a crucial link in the region’s wider cycle network. It is the
first of two stages in Wellington’s Northern Connection, running from Bunny
Street to Ngauranga, and will eventually connect with other projects all the
way through to Melling in Lower Hutt.
“Over
coming months, we’ll be progressively removing obstacles on the shared path,
and resurfacing it to make it safer and easier to use.”
The
improvements include:
- putting in new kerbs
- relocating and altering the layout of some bus stops
- laying new concrete and asphalt
- making safety changes at driveways and vehicle entrances to
slow traffic
- widening the bridge over the Kaiwharawhara Stream
The
Council’s Portfolio Leader Transport Strategy and Operations, Councillor Chris
Calvi-Freeman, says the upgrade is being funded in partnership with the
Government and New Zealand Transport Agency, and is exciting because it is the
first of many in Wellington City’s Urban Cycleways Programme.
“There
will be a lot going on adjacent to the road while the work happens, but the contractors
will be doing the work in stages. They will work with local businesses,
residents and others who use this area to minimise disruption as much as
possible.”
A
safe route for people on foot and bikes will be provided through or around the
construction area, and people will be able to get to all businesses.
Traffic
management will be in place at times where work is happening, but the usual
number of traffic lanes will operate at peak times.
Hutt
Road is one of the most popular cycling routes in Wellington. More than 400 people
travel this way at peak times and the numbers choosing to use the shared path
has doubled in the past 10 years.
City
Councillors voted in August last year to go with a staged approach to
implementing the cycle and other transport improvements along the route.
The
improvements under way will allow for a future two-way cycleway and dedicated
pedestrian path, but will continue to operate as a shared space for now until decisions
are made about the parking