Wairau-Taharoto upgrade gets go-ahead

February 10, 2005

North Shore City Council has approved plans for a major upgrade of one of the city's busiest roads, which is also a key link in the Northern Busway system.

The upgrade of Wairau and Taharoto roads will include road widening, improving intersections, installing traffic lights and undergrounding power lines. It will also involve adding a section of bus lane, upgrading pedestrian paths and adding cycle lanes.

"This will be a major improvement for all road users, and most importantly, make the road safer for pedestrians," North Shore City's infrastructure and environment committee deputy chairperson, Chris Darby, says.

"Several thousand school students use the road every day travelling to Westlake Boys' and Girls' high schools, Carmel College, Takapuna Normal Intermediate, St Joseph's School and Rosmini College," he says.

"There are also many growing businesses in the area, especially at Smales Farm Office Park, as well as the North Shore Hospital.

"The roads will be the gateway to the planned Westlake Busway Station, and this upgrade will include a central bus lane between Forrest Hill Rd and Shakespeare Rd, to ensure buses can access the station easily."

The council looked at three possible options for the upgrade, and approved 'option1' after extensive community consultation. "This option requires the least amount of road widening, and is the preferred choice of people who responded to our call for feedback," Chris Darby says.

"We want to create a road that meets the needs of drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and adjoining property owners, without creating a huge expanse of tar and concrete that would be an eyesore and isolate one side from the other.

"The planned upgrade will mean a better east-west link across North Shore City, and an attractive, landscaped avenue that will be a convenient, safe place to travel." (ends)

© Scoop Media