Locals loving road revamp
Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists all reap the benefits from $10.4m Mangere project
New road layouts in a South Auckland suburb are slowing cars and getting more people pounding the pavement. The Te Ara Mua Future Streets project in Ma¯ngere was created in a bid to better road conditions for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Project leader Hamish Mackie, of Mackie Research and Consulting, said they had monitored the community’s response.
“What we know now is that we’ve put the infrastructure in and we’ve learnt a bit about how well that’s gone and how people are perceiving the various bits that have changed in Ma¯ngere.
“People like the look and feel of it. They like the pedestrian crossings, they like the wider footpaths, the For a video go to nzherald.co.nz Town Centre carpark
MANGERE shared paths and some of the cultural references.”
Improved roads include Massey Rd, Windrush Close, Pershore Place, Imrie Ave, Friesian Drive, Mascot Ave and in and around Ma¯ngere Town Centre near Bader Drive.
The $10.4 million project opened two years ago. Planting and street improvements were also made and a community trail put in encouraging people to walk or cycle.
Vehicle speeds had dropped by an average 11km/h. On Friesian Drive, speeds fell an average 17km/h.
Traffic volumes had also dropped, with 12 per cent less traffic on Mascot Ave near the Bader Drive roundabout, 24 per cent less further down Mascot Ave near Nga Iwi School and a huge 31 per cent on Friesian Drive.
“That makes it safer for kids getting in and out of school and to the town centre,” Mackie said.
Data also showed a growing number of cyclists and more walkers.
With obesity statistics high in the area, another big aim was to encourage physical activity and more opportunities to get to places — for example, the shopping centre — via improved footpaths and the community trail by bike or on foot.
Pedestrian safety was better guaranteed also.
“We see fewer conflicts or fewer near-misses with vehicles and people crossing the road.”
Mackie said, however, there were divided opinions about cycle lanes effectively taking out parking spots on main roads.
Ma¯ngere-O¯ta¯huhu Local Board chairwoman Lemauga Lydia Sosene said the changes had created better behaviours and new understandings about road safety.
“There’s more awareness — somebody will yell at you now,” she laughed.
Te Ara Mua Future Streets is a partnership between Mackie Research, Auckland Transport, the NZ Transport Agency and the Ma¯ngereO¯ta¯huhu Local Board.