Major revamp proposed for key city route
Plans for the first tangible changes to the capital’s streetscape under the Let’s Get Wellington Moving transport initiative are under way with the proposed redevelopment of a key transport artery.
Yesterday, proposed improvements to Thorndon Quay and Hutt Rd were announced before public engagement for the project begins today.
The proposal includes part-time bus lanes running in both directions, a twoway cycle path from Hutt Rd to the Mulgrave St bus interchange, and the conversion of angle parking to parallel parking on Thorndon Quay.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) planners are hopeful construction on the $30 million to $35 million project, which is expected to improve walking and cycling and make bus journeys more reliable, will start in 2022 and last two years.
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the announcement represented the first highly visible project launched under the LGWM banner, saying the proposals offered a high benefit pay-off for the city.
The area was a key gateway into the city with 50,000 people travelling the route daily. That number was expected to rise to 58,000 in the next 16 to 17 years.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency representative Emma Speight said a priority for the project was moving more people with fewer vehicles through the area which can be highly congested during peak times.
New LGWM director Siobhan Proctor said the introduction of part-time bus lanes would encourage more people to use public transport, taking more private cars off the road.
Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter said he was pleased to see a project from the LGWM programme under way.
‘‘It’s good to see something with a bit of meat on it.
‘‘I’m particularly encouraged to see not just safety being looked at, but also public transport.’’
Foster said safety along Thorndon Quay was of particular concern and angle parking posed a particular hazard to cyclists. An estimated 1300 cyclists use the road each day and numbers are expected to increase to 4000 by 2036.