Bus priority lane means temporary detours

Buses will have a faster run through a busy Northcote intersection following the building of a new bus priority lane.

A traffic island is being removed and the corner of Lake and Ocean View Rds is being widened to provide for the lane, which will allow buses quicker access from Ocean View Rd to the roundabout at the intersection with Lake and Northcote Rds.

The new bus lane is a further North Shore City Council initiative to provide bus priority measures, as a part of its commitment to improving passenger transport services.

North Shore City's works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says with these roads handling 17,000 vehicles a day in just one direction, the city is also taking the opportunity to rebuild the road and to save money in the longer term by significantly extending its life.

"The amount of work to be done within the $450,000, two-month project will mean there will be some traffic delays and congestion in the area," Councillor Cayford says.

"We've taken a number of steps to minimise inconvenience to road users," he says.

The area involved in the reconstruction runs from Pizza Hut in Northcote Rd to Hillcrest Ave, and from the roundabout 40 metres into Lake Rd.

Joel Cayford says with so many businesses around the intersection relying on vehicle access, work at those points will be done through the night. Vehicle access to all businesses will still be available at all times through the working day.

"Work on the road surface itself will not be done during peak morning and afternoon traffic flows, and some of this work may have to be done in the evenings.

"A traffic manager will be on site whenever work continues, and when it's essential to divert vehicles or stop them to allow for the movement of contractor's vehicles, a "Stop Go" person will help control traffic," he says.

Recommended detours and signs are set up to guide drivers around the intersection to help reduce congestion and delays, and leaflets outlining these measures have been circulated to local businesses and residents.

Signs explaining the nature of the work have been set up, but road users are being warned that they can expect delays throughout the construction period, which runs from now until early October, depending on the weather.

© Scoop Media