20 November 2018

Options for improving Hill Street intersection open for public consultation

Planning to upgrade the State Highway 1 Hill Street intersection in Warkworth, north of Auckland, has been reduced to two short list options, and members of the public are now invited to have their say.

The NZ Transport Agency’s Director of Regional Relationships, Steve Mutton says the options focus on simplifying traffic movements, improving current congestion issues and provide for future transport needs.

“We invite everyone to consider the short-listed options and give us feedback. That feedback will inform the business case as it’s developed.”

SH1 is a nationally significant highway and carries a high volume of traffic including freight, but this traffic conflicts with the many local trips made into Warkworth town centre, Hill Street, Matakana and numerous eastern beach communities.

Option A proposes a roundabout with vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on all arms potentially controlled by traffic lights. The roundabout is oval shaped to increase distance between arms, creating gaps for traffic to enter. Roundabouts promote safer speeds and reduce vehicle conflicts as drivers always give way to their right.

Option B proposes traffic signals at the Hill Street intersection controlling all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Elizabeth Street would be one way towards the town centre, and traffic leaving the town centre would get to SH1 via a new connection at Bank St.

The new Bank St connection at SH1 enables the Hill Street intersection to be simplified and reduces conflicting movements.

Option B includes a variation which reduces vehicle movements to a ‘left in’ only at Elizabeth Street. Drivers from the north, south and west would access Elizabeth Street via a roundabout at Matakana Road/Sandspit Road.

“Upgrading the Hill Street intersection is an important part of wider transport plans being investigated that both respond to today’s safety and congestion issues and plan ahead for future travel demands,” says Mr Mutton.

The Matakana Link Road and Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will open in late 2021 and reduce some of the pressure at Hill Street. The options for public consultation are long term solutions for the intersection. In the meantime, the Transport Agency will continue to monitor the intersection and look at making short term changes to improve safety and accessibility for all road users.

“Options for Hill Street improvements are being developed in collaboration with other projects including Supporting Growth, to ensure they work together in an integrated way. There may be a need to phase the improvements at the Hill Street intersection to align with these projects, and when future development is completed,” says Mr Mutton.

The Transport Agency is hosting two public open days at Warkworth Town Hall on:

• Saturday 24 November, 10am-1pm
• Wednesday 28 November, 3:30-7pm.

All the information will be online from 20 November at www.nzta.govt.nz/hill-street-improvements
You can provide feedback by completing a questionnaire which is available:
• on our website
• at the Warkworth Library, Baxter Street, Warkworth
• at the two public open days at Warkworth Town Hall

The deadline for providing feedback is Friday 14 December.

For more information, go to https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/hill-street-improvements/

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