Contract awarded for Dominion Rd

Work to upgrade one of Auckland’s busiest thoroughfares is a step closer to beginning with the awarding of the design contract.

Engineering firm Beca has won the contract to prepare detailed designs for a $47 million upgrade to Dominion Rd.

Consultant Architectus will provide specialist input into urban design and streetscape works.

Construction is expected to begin in mid 2014.

The Dominion Rd upgrade is set to improve bus travel time and reliability by creating continuous peak hour bus lanes from State Highway 20 to View Rd.

It also features village centre upgrades and parallel cycle routes on streets with less traffic to improve cycle safety.

The detailed design will be developed using feedback from consultation done since the project was approved.

Since October 2012, Auckland Transport has been meeting with interested stakeholder groups including iwi, the AlbertEden and Puketapapa Local Boards, business associations and the emergency services.

In addition, a series of public information days were held for the community to give their feedback.

Beca will now develop the design, taking into account stakeholder and community feedback.

Ideas to be incorporated include developing distinct themes through the village centres of Balmoral, Eden Valley and Mt Roskill, improving pedestrian crossing facilities, installing traffic-calming measures along the cycle routes and highlighting the cultural heritage of the iconic road.

‘‘Dominion Rd is one of the few transport corridors in Auckland where there are more bus passengers than drivers in peak hours,’’ Auckland Transport spokesman Rick Walden says.

‘‘These numbers are predicted to increase by about 30 per cent.

‘‘The award of the detailed design contract means that we are another step closer to improving the quality of this busy road corridor.’’