Three speed limits within 800m fuels driver irritation

Instances’ readers discover it illogical that there are three pace limits inside 800m travelling on Pakūranga Street, the brand new flyover and South-Jap Freeway. Images equipped Mark Barber / Anton Benadie

As congestion woes and driving confusion keep on to the annoyance of motorists attributable to the perplexing design of the brand new intersection of Pakūranga Street and te Rā Hihi Flyover, PJ TAYLOR picks up on one other angle irritating highway customers – three pace limits over a patch of lower than 800 metres and, why is there no median barrier? And AT continues to develop its plan to rectify intersection points.

The pace restrict on Pakūranga Street is now again to 60kph, reversed in March this yr from 50kph to the jubilation of domestically elected members and motorists.

The pace restrict on the brand new $152 million Rā Hihi Flyover, which can be a bit of the South-Jap Freeway, is 50kph.

And the pace restrict on the South-Jap Freeway is 80kph.

AT says a plan to deal with the Pakūranga Street and flyover “intersection points is being progressed”.

With the flyover 600 metres in driving size, it means motorists are having to deal with three completely different pace limits inside a distance of about 800m, give or take just a few metres at junctions and merger lanes.

Right here lies the annoyance, as Instances’ reader Andrew Dyer of Howick explains: “The imposition of a 50kph restrict on the flyover is senseless in any respect.

“It’s a twin carriageway highway which has presumably been constructed to the most recent security requirements.

“When Pakūranga Street has a 60kph restrict the place there are way more dangers current for each motorists and pedestrians, it’s absurd to have a decrease restrict on the brand new flyover,” says Dyer.

Deliberate Jap Busway summer season season development jobs within the Ti Rakau Drive space, seen right here close to the Botany Hub finish, are nonetheless resulting from start on December 27.

One other reader responding on social media to earlier Instances’ flyover tales, additionally sums up the sensation of many: “I nonetheless don’t get the logic the place the pace on Pakūranga Street is 60kph, and the South-Jap Freeway is 80kph, and but the flyover is 50kph.

“It successfully reduces clean travelling and clogs up each instructions. A better means is to maintain the identical pace as 60kph so the merge on the finish could be clean, and commuters can easily improve pace to 80kph. This may also help reduce the backlog of visitors at each ends.”

Responding to Instances’ questions, an Auckland Transport (AT) spokesperson says: “The flyover was constructed for a pace restrict of 50kph to allow secure journey that considers the flyover’s curves, ramps, and gradients.

“It was additionally designed at a time when Pakūranga Street’s pace restrict was 50kph.

AT says the next pace restrict on the flyover “would have decreased the potential for land reuse alongside Reeves Street, affecting the city centre”.

“Constructing the flyover to permit 80kph would have required a wider bridge impacting close by companies and residents and growing the price of the construction.

“Moreover, it could have decreased the potential for land reuse alongside Reeves Street, affecting the city centre.”

The AT spokesperson additionally addresses questions Instances’ readers have been asking concerning the lack of a median barrier on the flyover.

“Obstacles haven’t been put in as a part of the highway security strategy to assist decrease speeds by not giving the notion of a high-speed surroundings,” they are saying.

Works proceed to progress between Pakūranga Plaza and Ti Rakau Drive, the place the brand new Pakūranga Bus Station will function.

Dyer additionally raises one other speed-limit problem regarding the Jap Busway on Pakūranga Street.

“Much more absurd is the scenario between Ti Rakau Drive and Williams Avenue,” he says. “Within the final yr, the pace restrict on the primary highway has been elevated from 50kph to 60kph, and but the pace restrict on the parallel busway is about at 30kph.

“I’d argue that dangers to autos and pedestrians are a lot decrease on the busway because it’s solely utilized by professionally educated drivers who could be monitored and managed by the bus corporations.

“Dangers are definitely not more than on the primary highway and so it’s fully illogical to have a a lot decrease restrict,” says Dyer.

“I hope the brand new part of busway parallel to Ti Rakau Drive may have extra wise pace limits utilized when it’s opened.”

There’s been loads of heavy lifting happening setting up the brand new Ti Rakau Bridge.

Tackling intersection points

AT says a plan to deal with the Pakūranga Street and flyover “intersection points is being progressed”.

The Instances understands extra particulars about what precisely that plan entails shall be launched by AT “quickly”, together with a begin date for the works.

And as has beforehand been reported, deliberate Jap Busway summer season season development jobs within the Ti Rakau Drive space are nonetheless resulting from start on December 27.

“AT and its Jap Busway venture companions are monitoring visitors flows and fine-tuning visitors lights to assist, significantly through the afternoon peak,” AT continues to state concerning the Pakūranga Street and flyover intersection.

“A static signal has been put in to encourage drivers to make full use of all three lanes when turning into Pakūranga Street from the flyover.

“AT will proceed to watch the intersection at Pakuranga Street and the flyover to make sure it really works.

A view of the brand new Pakūranga to Botany Busway because it takes form close to the intersection with Gossamer Drive.

“There continues to be main development work on the Jap Busway requiring visitors adjustments, so variable message indicators (VMS) are being moved so drivers learn about upcoming lane adjustments sooner,” says AT.

“We’re additionally guaranteeing that digital mapping and navigation apps equivalent to Google Maps are up to date and that GPS techniques information drivers to make use of the flyover as a substitute of exhibiting Panmure as the popular route.

“Building is continuous at tempo so all main works can finish subsequent yr, and the busway can open in 2027 – offering fast public transport that’s dependable.”

AT provides that its upcoming Summer time Street Reno programme targets repairing and upgrading 400 kilometres of roads and footpaths over the hotter months.

“That is when the climate is greatest for highway repairs. Final summer season we achieved 417kms of highway repairs.”