Controversy over main road upgrade

A redesign of one of Epsom’s main roads has raised conflicting opinions among locals set to be affected by the changes.

T3 transit lanes will replace the current clearways and flush medians along Manukau Rd to create a four-lane road.

Auckland Transport’s stakeholder relationship manager, Emma Taylor, said the upgrade is the “only sensible solution” to the current congestion along Pah and Manukau Rd.

There is no confirmed start date for the project, but Mrs Taylor said it would be before the end of the financial year.

Local resident Jill Gilberd walks daily in the area, and said there are few crossings along the road which means people rely on the flush median for safe crossing.

“Now there won’t be anywhere safe to cross,” said Ms Gilberd.

As part of the project, the existing pedestrian crossing will be replaced with a new signalised crossing situated just north of Ambury Ave, but Ms Gilberd said this crossing is too far away and it is not enough for locals.

Mrs Taylor said using the flush median is dangerous, but there are currently not enough pedestrians in the area to meet the requirements for another crossing.

“Crossing the road relying on a white line is not encouraged . . . we don’t view this as a crossing function,” said Mrs Taylor.

Local businessman Robert Beattie, who runs the butchery at Greenwoods Corner on Manukau Rd, said the new T3 lane means there will be less parking in the area.

“To be honest it would probably hurt a lot of the shops around here . . . it will kill probably a few cafes,” said Mr Beattie.

“If people can’t stop outside the shops they want to go to, they carry on down the road,” said Mr Beattie.

However student Brooke Ferguson catches the bus daily, and said she spends most of her travel time on Pah and Manukau Rds.

Miss Ferguson said T3 lanes would “definitely” help with traffic and also encourage more carpooling.

“A lot of time when I am sitting there in traffic, I can see cars . . . where there is just one person,” said Miss Ferguson.

Ms Gilberd is concerned there has been a lack of communication from Auckland Transport with residents and users of the road, and pedestrians should be taken into consideration.

However, Mrs Taylor said 1000 letters were sent out to locals in the initial planning stages of the project, and the main concern remains with drivers who will be directly affected by construction.

Mrs Taylor said flush medians are increasingly being removed from main roads and the T3 lanes will benefit traffic flow.

According to the Auckland Transport website the lanes would operate Monday to Friday, with the northbound lane in place from 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm, and the southbound lane from 4pm to 6pm. However the specific details of the project have not been updated online yet.

The Puketāpapa Local Board, Royal Oak Primary and Marcellin College have all shown support for the project.

Auckland Transport is now in the process of working on the technicalities of how the construction will be carried out.