Traffic congestion reveals critical development error

Bumper to bumper traffic along Whangaparaoa Rd in the vicinity of the New World supermarket in Stanmore Bay has angered local councillor John Watson.

It appears one of the issues is that the bus stop and traffic island outside New World were put in the wrong place when the supermarket was built last year. But Cr Watson is also concerned about traffic slowing at the left hand turn into the supermarket’s carpark.

Cr Watson says that the hold ups in peak hours are caused by cars having to stop before taking a sharp turn into the carpark, combined with people courteously stopping to let people in and out. He says at times the congestion extends as far as the Plaza. “This has all come about as a consequence of the poor design of the entrance to the New World car park,” Cr Watson says. “On a road notorious for its congestion and fine tipping point as far as traffic flow goes, this is totally unacceptable. It is also dangerous as traffic comes to a sudden halt on a hill. It is only a matter of time until there are accidents. The placement of a bus stop in the road corridor just after this entrance exacerbates the danger.”

Auckland Transport engineers recently investigated the councillor’s complaint. The resulting report says that “when we visited the site we found that the bus stop has been marked further to the east, closer to Cedar Terrace, and the traffic island also built further to the east than the approved plans allow”.

The report says that Auckland Council’s consenting team will follow up, “to ensure that the developer’s contractors remedy the situation”. The solution is to cut back the traffic island and shift the bus stop further west. “This will allow more space to manoeuvre around a stopped bus and vehicles turning right into Cedar Terrace, which will reduce the risk of rear end crashes,” the report says.

It acknowledges that the entrance into the supermarket carpark from Whangaparaoa Rd is narrow, but says that this improves safety for pedestrians.

Foodstuffs Property Development acting general manager, Tony Catton, says that the organisation is working with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council to resolve the issues which have come to light since New World Whangaparaoa opened. “We expect to start work to remedy the situation before the end of this month,” he says. “In the meantime we thank customers for their patience.”

Cr Watson says while the relocation of the bus stop and traffic island are a partial solution, the crucial question is whether cars will be able to get past vehicles stopping to turn left. “A slip-road should have been provided,” he says.

 

“ You have to question the traffic engineering analysis, as many locals did at the time, as this is a thoroughly inappropriate design for the entrance to a major shopping centre on such a busy road.”

Auckland Transport’s report says that they will monitor the site over the coming months to ensure that congestion does not increase.