Design flaws to be fixed in $2m bus hub
Bus shelters will be temporarily removed for work
Hamilton’s $2¯ million upgrade of the Glenview bus hub on SH3 Ohaupō Rd is not up to standard for disabled bus users and needs six weeks of extra work that will include temporarily removing the new bus shelters while design and construction flaws are fixed.
“A post-construction survey identified a couple of issues that would make the bus hub less usable by members of the disabled community,” says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency regional manager of infrastructure delivery for the Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Jo Wilton.
On the southbound side of Ohaupō ¯ Rd, additional ramps are to be installed to allow for better access on and off the bus for people in wheelchairs.
On the northbound side of Ohaupō ¯ Rd, a large section of concrete path has been laid at a slightly steeper angle than specified in the design, Waka Kotahi says.
“While the average person walking along the path would be unlikely to notice this, it would create an unpleasant sensation of tipping to one side for wheelchair users. The solution is to raise the path leading to the bus stops, with the small drop to the
shared path protected by a handrail.
“The bus shelters that have been installed will be temporarily removed then reinstated once the additional work is complete,” the agency says.
The new bus hub is a joint project of Waka Kotahi with Waikato Regional Council and Hamilton City Council and is intended to “improve safety and connections for people who are walking and cycling”.
No indication has been given of the cost of fixing the errors or who is liable for the extra costs.
In announcing the errors, Waka Kotahi said in a statement: “Further work is required to complete the Glenview bus hub . . . so that it can better serve all members of the community when the new Comet bus
timetable begins in July.
“Over the next six weeks, additional work will be happening on site to make the bus hub better suited for disabled bus users. We’re committed to delivering a piece of infrastructure that suits the needs of everyone, so we’re taking the time now to put this right before the new bus service begins,” Wilton says.
Work will begin on the southbound side and then switch to the northbound side, with two lanes of traffic in each direction maintained at all times.
The new hub has room for three buses, new and improved infrastructure including bus shelters, and allows for greater manoeuvrability for buses.