The Strand Optimisation Project is a joint NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Auckland Transport (AT) project. The project runs along The Strand between Alten Road and Tāmaki Drive in Auckland. This is a project that aims to improve efficiency travel choices and safety along this corridor.
In 2023, we engaged with our partners, stakeholders, residents, and businesses on the proposed changes to SH16 between Alten Road and Tāmaki Drive. This allowed people to ask questions and provide feedback on the design. All feedback during this phase was collated and later considered during the development of the preliminary design.
Concept design feedback summary – September 2023 [PDF, 1.8 MB]
We are now in the process of sharing the preliminary design with our partners and key stakeholders.
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 current transport corridors by using the space we have more efficiently and effectively. To achieve this, the city needs to make better use of the existing transport network and focus on travel time savings by improving efficiency for freight, high occupancy vehicles, and 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 Auckland’s 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
CloseThe proposed improvements include:
A special vehicle lane (SVL) - The SVL will improve travel efficiency for freight and vehicles with multiple occupants (T2). The SVL is proposed to be operational between 6.30-10am and 4-7pm (Monday-Friday) in both directions. There will be no parking along the SVL to ensure there are two lanes of traffic in both directions at all times.
A separated Shared User Path (SUP) - The new SUP will connect to the existing Grafton Gully SUP just prior to Alten Road. It will follow the existing path on Churchill Street to the new signalised crossing, then run along Beach Road and connect to The Strand up to the rail overbridge. This will be separated from the road to improve safety.
Bus stop removal/relocation – The bus stop and shelters outside The Strand train station will be relocated in between the trees outside of the U-Save. This will avoid removing any trees in this location. Both parallel bus stops on Gladstone Road will be moved east to safely accommodate the new signalised crossing. The bus stop on the southern side of The Strand nearest the Saatchi & Saatchi building will remain in its current location as the previously proposed signalised crossing has been removed.
New pedestrian crossings
Intersection improvements – Minor improvements are proposed at the SH16 / Alten Road / Nicholls Lane and Stanley Street / Beach Road / Parnell Rise signalised intersections. The camber of the road will be adjusted along The Strand in the vicinity of the St Georges Bay Road intersection to help reduce instances of truck roll-over events, which have occurred in the past.
CloseWe anticipate the final design will be completed in late 2024. As we progress through detailed design, we will update you on progress and likely timeframes for construction. We’ll continue to update you as we have more information.
View larger image [PDF, 49 KB]
CloseWe acknowledge the importance of parking in this area for businesses and must find the correct balance between parking needs and efficiency, to support the movement of freight and people. The project will remove 32 on-street parking spaces, 31 of which are due to the SVL on The Strand and one space on Sudbury Terrace for the SUP.
The project will retain 10 on-street parking spaces, 7 on The Strand and 3 on Shipwright Lane. An additional 14 parking spaces will also be formalised on Shipwright Lane.
All on-street parking will be time limited and enforced by AT to ensure fair usage of the parking spaces and optimise parking opportunities and turnaround throughout the day for customers and visitors. There are also many paid parking locations along The Strand which will continue to be available.
We have uncovered very shallow utilities under the footpath along The Strand which means no new indented loading or parking bays will be created.
CloseAt this stage, there are no planned works to improve Gladstone or St Georges Bay Road intersections, as it is out of scope and budget of this project.
At St Georges Bay Road, the camber of the road will be adjusted due to instances of truck roll-over events which have occurred in the past.
Further upgrades to these intersections have been identified as part of the longer-term 10-year programme. Whilst details of this are unknown, the future rail overbridge upgrades will alter the layout of Gladstone Road and incorporate upgrades to this intersection.
CloseThe Strand rail overbridge is 97 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, and physical works will follow. Considering this, no major alterations will be made to the bridge for the SUP however, we will be altering the kerb leading up to the bridge to address the issue of vehicles running over the footpath. The footpath across the bridge will also be marked for the SUP.
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 some sort of disruption down the track, it simply is not ready in line with this project. We are in a position where we can make this section of SH16 more efficient and safer now.
CloseWe are limited to what we can provide as it comes down to the project scope and funding approved for this short-term project. To continue the SUP 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 lanes will be clearly and distinctively marked and signposted, similar to other areas around Auckland.
CloseAuckland System Management (ASM) and Auckland Council are looking at existing and future stormwater management for the wider catchment and implications for the transport corridor. This may include upgrading the stormwater network in this area. Healthy Waters, a department within Auckland Council who is responsible for stormwater management in Auckland, advised they have a current project under construction which will connect the last section of major twin 2.5m-diameter stormwater pipes from Quay Street to the harbour outfall. Once completed, the connection should help reduce the risk of flooding along SH16 The Strand and Beach Road areas under moderate to heavy rainfall events.
The maintenance programme for the stormwater system along the Strand has undergone a review process and the frequency to carry out routine maintenance has increased. The Strand has been flagged as a high-risk site, and ASM have processes in place to reduce the impact from expected large storm events. The flood mitigation plan will include an Emergency Response Plan and key learnings from the last few flood events.
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