OPINION: Urgent changes needed for Reeves Road Flyover intersection

By Simeon Brown, Member of Parliament for Pakuranga

The latest opening of the Reeves Street Flyover was welcome information for the east Auckland group, who’d been ready for this mission for a number of a long time.

It’s had an instantaneous impression, with journey occasions within the morning considerably improved, and suggestions from drivers indicating shorter and simpler journeys to work and faculty.

Nonetheless, it’s clear the brand new intersection with Pakuranga Street isn’t working in the course of the night peak with longer journey occasions than regular, in some circumstances negating the good points made within the morning.

Final week, I met with the Jap Busway Alliance (EBA) alongside councillor Maurice Williamson and Howick Native Board chair Bruce Kendall, to debate the congestion points we’ve been observing and lift doable options. I’ve additionally written to the chief government of Auckland Transport (AT).

At that assembly it was agreed one thing wants to vary, and the Alliance have dedicated to investigating a number of doable options along with the work they had been already doing to attempt to enhance congestion.

The primary proposal I do know lots of you may have been asking for is the return of a 3rd eastbound lane that goes straight via the intersection in the direction of Howick, which might enhance the effectivity of the intersection.

The rationale this wasn’t initially included within the design of the intersection was to accommodate each the right-turn lane onto the Flyover from Pakuranga Street, and a future cycle lane alongside that part of highway.

This cycle lane removes one lane from Pakuranga Street between Ti Rakau Drive and the Flyover, and I’ve made it clear to the Alliance and AT it isn’t wanted or justified, notably on the expense of a 3rd lane for normal visitors.

Presently, the right-turn lane should stay whereas work is completed on the previous Ti Rakau Drive/Reeves Street intersection, the place the flip onto the South Jap Freeway is closed till after Christmas.

As soon as this work is accomplished, the right-turn lane onto the Flyover from Pakuranga Street ought to now not be wanted, as visitors from the route of Panmure can flip onto Ti Rakau Drive and use the flip from there.

I’ve additionally expressed my concern with the final design of the Flyover/Pakuranga Street intersection, which ends up in a pointy nook for visitors heading in the direction of Howick, forcing automobiles to decelerate and additional exacerbating congestion.

Cancelling the deliberate cycle lane, and returning a 3rd lane to Pakuranga Street heading in the direction of Howick, ought to alleviate the congestion points we’ve been seeing and make the intersection extra environment friendly.

I’ll proceed to advocate to the EBA and AT for pressing motion on these points and can preserve the group knowledgeable.