New safety measures for East Coast Rd

Auckland Transport is proposing new safety measures at two intersections on East Coast Road near Silverdale.

The intersections at Spur Road and Wilks Road/Jackson Way have a combined history of 10 crashes over the past five years, including two fatalities and one serious injury. AT is now proposing to install intersection speed zones at both locations, using sensors and electronic signs to temporarily lower the speed limit when vehicles are waiting to turn.

East Coast Road carries around 9000 vehicles a day along this stretch near Silverdale. The side roads add significantly to that as Spur Road, Wilks Road and Jackson Way together bring a further 5660 vehicles a day into the mix. Spur Road is the only road in and out of Stillwater, while Wilks Road serves as a main route to North Shore Airport, meaning both intersections see a steady stream of turning traffic throughout the day.

Intersection speed zones use sensors buried in the road to detect vehicles waiting to turn. When a vehicle is detected at either intersection, electronic signs on East Coast Road – positioned about 175m either side of the intersection – automatically display a temporary speed limit of 60km/h.

The signs activate only at the intersection where a vehicle is waiting, and only for as long as that vehicle is there. When no one is turning, the signs are blank and the existing speed limit applies. Approaching drivers are alerted that turning traffic is ahead and to slow down accordingly.

At the Spur Road intersection, new signs and road markings have recently been installed to make the Give Way requirements clearer for drivers turning out of Spur Road.

At the Wilks Road/Jackson Way intersection, a new right-turn bay with flush median markings and red “slow” road markings is expected to be in place by late this year, designed to reduce the likelihood of rear-end crashes.

AT says intersection speed zones can be installed significantly faster and at lower cost than major interventions such as traffic lights or roundabouts, while still delivering meaningful safety benefits and minimal disruption during construction. The technology has been identified as an effective tool for locations like these, where the risk is real but the volume of turning traffic doesn’t necessarily justify a full signals upgrade.

Community feedback is open until July 24 on the AT website.