The Strand Optimisation Project is a joint project between NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Auckland Transport (AT). The project runs along The Strand between Alten Road and Tāmaki Drive in Auckland. The project aims to improve efficiency, travel choice and safety along this busy corridor.
In 2023, we started engaging with our partners, stakeholders, residents, and businesses on the proposed changes to The Strand (SH16) between Alten Road and Tāmaki Drive. Throughout the project people have been given the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the design. All feedback has been collated and considered during the development of the design.
Concept design feedback summary – September 2023 [PDF, 1.8 MB]
Over the past year, our project team has continued to develop the design and complete technical assessments and investigations. We have now completed the detailed design for all improvements and are able to share these details in full with our partners, stakeholders and community.
If you have any comments or questions about the project, email the project team: StrandOptimisation@nzta.govt.nz
With the predicted future population growth in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, there will be greater travel demand on our existing networks and infrastructure. This means we need to consider a range of tools to optimise our transport networks by using the space we have more efficiently and effectively. To achieve this, the city needs to make better use of the existing network and focus on travel time savings by improving efficiency for freight and high occupancy vehicles, while providing safe, effective and resilient transport options. The Strand Optimisation project is one of many projects that aims to achieve this change.
The Strand optimisation project aims to improve:
The Strand Optimisation project is one of the first major projects being delivered by the Auckland Network Optimisation (ANO) programme. The aim of the ANO is to increase the effectiveness and productivity of the network, with relatively inexpensive and quick changes to our roads and paths, to improve efficiency, agility, safety and support economic growth outcomes. This project supports the ANO programme by improving efficiency and safety for people, freight and high occupancy vehicles.
Auckland Network Optimisation programme
CloseAs we progressed through the detailed design, alongside ongoing discussions with partners and key stakeholders, we have made the decision to deliver the project in two stages:
|
Stage |
Improvements |
Construction update |
|
Stage 1 |
Implemented a special vehicle lane (SVL), relocating or removing bus stops, installing new pedestrian crossings, and upgrading intersections |
Majority of Stage 1 construction is now complete, with minor works to be carried out in May. |
|
Stage 2 |
Implementing a shared use path (SUP) |
Starting May 2025 |
We have now obtained the resource consent for the stage 2 works, which complements the completion of stage 1. Construction is expected to start on stage 2 in May 2025 and will take approximately 4 months to complete, subject to weather conditions.
Stage 2 can be built with minimal road disruptions since there is limited interaction with the road corridor including the new SVL. Similar to stage 1, Auckland System Management (ASM) will carry out these works and will be the key contact during this time. As always, appropriate health and safety measures will be in place.
Auckland System Management (ASM)
For more details on the improvements and construction works, please see the ‘Stage 2 improvements’ dropdown below and ASM’s upcoming maintenance page:
Construction for Stage 1 is now mostly complete. These works were undertaken from late 2024/early 2025 – May 2025.
A special vehicle lane (SVL) has been created on either side of The Strand between the intersection of Parnell Rise/The Strand and west of St Georges Bay Road to help move people and freight around more reliably. The SVL is for vehicles with two or more people (T2) and heavy vehicles, operating between 6.30AM – 10:00AM and 4:00PM – 7:00PM, Monday to Friday. No parking is permitted along the SVL to ensure two lanes are always available.
The Stage 2 improvements include:
With the final stage of the project underway, we are now working with ASM to facilitate the handover for the stage 2 improvements.
View larger image [PDF, 18 KB]
CloseASM operates and maintains the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland motorway network. As part of their rehabilitation programme, there were upcoming road works that required road closures and traffic management restrictions in the vicinity of The Strand project area. To avoid rework on the road and minimise disruptions to the local community and road users, we accelerated the design and delivery of Stage 1 to align with their planned works.
Due to ASM completing the Stage 1 construction, their thorough understanding of the area, key stakeholders and residents concerns, we have awarded them the contract for stage 2. We are confident in their ability to deliver this next stage of works.
CloseWe acknowledge the importance of parking in this area for businesses and their customers. We must find a balance between parking needs and efficiency of the transport network. The project has removed 29 on-street parking spaces to create space for the special vehicle lane on The Strand.
The project will retain 12 on-street parking spaces, 9 on The Strand and 3 on Shipwright Lane. An additional 14 parking spaces will also be formalised on Shipwright Lane, with no time restrictions.
All on-street parking along The Strand will be time limited and enforced by Auckland Transport to ensure fair usage of the parking spaces and optimise parking opportunities throughout the day for customers and visitors. There are also many paid parking locations along The Strand which will continue to be available.
CloseDuring Stage 1, several bus stops were relocated or removed. This included:
The bus shelter at the following stops were removed in late December 2024:
The removal of these shelters facilitated the Stage 1 improvements of The Strand Optimisation project. People could still catch the bus at these locations, however, shelter wasn’t available. Once construction was complete, the bus shelters were re-installed at the new bus stop locations.
CloseThe consent for the SVL was lodged earlier because its detailed design was accelerated to align with ASM’s planned works, as mentioned above. However, the detailed design for the SUP required additional work and consultation with key stakeholders before we were in a position to apply for the consent. This process took longer, which is why the SUP consent couldn’t be lodged at the same time as the SVL.
Stage 2 could also be built separately from the ASM rehabilitation works as it can be primarily built without causing too much road disruptions and has minimal interface with the special vehicle lane works planned in Stage 1.
CloseAt this stage, there are no planned works to change the Gladstone/The Strand intersection, as it is out of scope and budget of this project. The camber of the road at the St Georges Bay Rd/The Strand has been adjusted to increase safety due to instances of truck roll-over events which have occurred in the past.
Further changes to these intersections have been identified as part of the longer-term 10-year programme. Whilst details of this are limited, the future rail overbridge upgrades will alter the layout of Gladstone Road and incorporate upgrades to these intersections.
CloseThe Strand rail overbridge is 98 years old and due for replacement. It will be upgraded as part of a separate programme of works in the coming years. More planning and design work is required to better understand what the design will include, and physical works will follow. Considering this, no alterations will be made to the bridge. For the shared use path, we will make minor changes to the kerb leading up to the bridge to improve safety and address the issue of vehicles running over the footpath.
CloseThe bridge upgrades will be funded by a different programme of works which is still being worked through. While we acknowledge that upgrades to the bridge will cause disruption down the track, it simply is not ready to be delivered in line with this project. We are in a position where we can make relatively inexpensive and quick changes to our roads and paths on The Strand to make it more efficient and safer without waiting for the longer-term programme of works.
CloseWe are limited to what we can provide as it comes down to the project scope and funding for this short-term project. To continue the shared use path to the intersection of Quay St/Tāmaki Drive would require a full upgrade to the Tāmaki Drive railway overbridge, which is projected to exceed the budget made available to us and will be delivered in a separate programme of works in the coming years.
CloseThe special vehicle lanes will be clearly and distinctively marked and signposted, similar to other areas around Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
CloseAuckland System Management (ASM) and Auckland Council are looking at existing and future stormwater management for the wider area and implications for the transport network. This may include upgrading the stormwater network in the project area, which is separate to The Strand Optimisation project.
The maintenance programme for the stormwater network along The Strand has undergone a review process, as a result the frequency of routine maintenance has increased. We know that The Strand is as a high-risk site, and ASM have processes in place to reduce the impact from expected large wet weather events.
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