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New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has approved the installation of a pedestrian crossing at the Hill Street intersection and work is expected to start this month.
The raised crossing will be installed on the left turn slip lane, on the southbound approach of State Highway 1, near Kowhai Park.
At the same time, Auckland Transport (AT) will install a “green man controlled” signalised crossing across Sandspit Road.
The combination of the pedestrian crossing and the signalised crossing will allow pedestrians coming from the direction of Kowhai Park to safely cross the intersection as they head towards Elizabeth Street.
The move can’t come soon enough for Warkworth transport planner and walking and cycling advocate, Bevan Woodward, who has been campaigning for pedestrian improvements at the intersection for about 10 years.
Mr Woodward says the intersection is a “terrifying place” for people to try to cross.
He says residents at the Totara Park retirement village – who possibly cannot drive and are reliant on mobility scooters – have often been effectively stranded and denied access to Warkworth by the intersection.
Mr Woodward says it is ironic that it has taken so long for the introduction of the enhancements for pedestrians, as he says it will actually improve traffic flows at an intersection notorious for its complexity and congestion.
He says a safe time to cross Sandspit Road already exists, with the current phasing of the traffic lights, but so far there has been no “green man” to alert pedestrians that it is safe to do so during the safe phase.
He adds that traffic turning right out of Elizabeth Street is hampered by southbound traffic using the slip lane. Traffic entering the slip lane will soon be forced to slow down for the pedestrian crossing, thereby assisting traffic exiting Elizabeth Street.
Mr Woodward says delays in installing pedestrian facilities probably reflect the contentious nature of the intersection and a little bit of “finger pointing” between AT and NZTA as to who is responsible for sorting it out.
He believes constant badgering and acting like a “squeaky wheel” has prompted the authorities to act.
Unfortunately for the authorities, the “squeaking” is set to continue. Mr Woodward now wants to see another raised pedestrian crossing installed on the slip lane for northbound traffic turning left into Hill Street.
He believes the slip lane is especially hazardous for children heading to nearby Warkworth School, as northbound traffic on SH1 can suddenly turn left and whip into the slip lane at 60km/h.
AT spokesperson Mark Hannan says construction of the signalised crossing across Sandspit Road, and the associated pedestrian crossing, will likely take about two weeks and will be done at night.
