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Have your say here – Consultation closes June 7.
Auckland Transport (AT) and Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have released their vision for transport networks in Warkworth to be delivered over the next 30 years.
The plan includes improved cycling and walking tracks, two new bus interchanges including park and rides, a southern interchange on the new Puhoi to Warkworth motorway, a Sandspit link road, the long-awaited western collector/link road and a second ‘wider’ western link road.
Residents have until June 7 to comment on the plan.
Waka Kotahi director regional relationships Steve Mutton says the focus is on planning for future growth now by protecting the land required for the new transport corridors before new homes and communities are built.
Over the next 30 years, there will be another 7300 homes in Warkworth’s future growth areas, and the population is expected to rise from 5000 to around 25,000.
“Our transport planning integrates with the Warkworth Structure Plan to create high quality and more compact future communities with greater access to active and public transport options north, south and north-east of Warkworth,” Mutton says.
Once feedback is received on proposed routes, the next step will be to complete more detailed investigations. This will include environmental and technical assessments and engagement with mana whenua, other partners, local property owners, developers and key community stakeholders.
The Warkworth Business Case process is expected to be finished towards the end of this year and is scheduled for consideration by the AT and Waka Kotahi boards early next year.
“Our planning work will integrate with Auckland Council’s land use plans to support future growth for these areas,” Mutton says.
“It will also need to consider how these projects will integrate with other priority projects such as the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway Tūhonohono ki Tai – Matakana link road, Hill Street improvements and other transport upgrades delivered by the Rodney Local Board.
The majority of the projects in the transport plan are yet to be funded for delivery. It is anticipated they will be considered for funding in line with the long-term timeframes for the rezoning and release of land by Council over the next 10 to 30 years.
Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers says it is vitality important that Auckland Council takes a holistic view of Warkworth’s future transport needs and that this infrastructure is built in advance of any new housing.
“It is already deeply concerning about the amount of additional housing currently being built while our existing roads are not able to cope as it is,” Sayers says. “I would encourage people to make submissions along these lines.”
Motorway southern interchange
The motorway interchange will align with the release of land in the southern growth area of Warkworth, around Valerie Close. It will provide a connection for buses to the proposed southern public transport interchange and improve connections to future employment areas. Additionally, it will make access to the motorway easier for any freight travelling south from new industrial land provided for in the Warkworth Structure Plan. It is proposed that there will be south-facing ramps only. Movements to the north will be facilitated by the Warkworth to Wellsford interchange in the longer term. The interchange will be located south of Woodcocks Road and central to the southern growth area. It will be accessed from a new arterial road, which will connect to the proposed wider western link road.
Sandspit link road
This will provide an alternative route between the motorway and Sandspit and Snells Beach, via the Matakana link road and avoiding the Hill Street intersection. It will be two lanes with a speed limit of 50km. The plan proposes that the road runs east from Matakana Road and curves south to avoid key environmental features and the existing quarry. It will then continue towards Sandspit Road, connecting with a new roundabout.
Western link road
The Western link road is a proposed north-south connection and includes the existing roads of Mansel Drive and Evelyn Close, and will directly connect to the existing SH1 at both the northern and southern ends. It will provide an alternative to the existing SH1, thereby avoiding the Hill Street intersection. The majority of the new western link road will have two traffic lanes with a speed limit of 50km. Widening at key intersections will be required to provide enough space for turning lanes and potentially bus priority.
Wider western link road
A wider western link is proposed as a north-south connection between Woodcocks Road in the north and the existing SH1 in the south, connecting to the southern motorway interchange via a new arterial connection. The south-western area of Warkworth is the largest area of future urban zoned land. A wider western link road would provide direct access to this land and the associated residential, commercial and employment activity. It would also serve as a public transport route from the southern public transport interchange to the southern motorway interchange, as well as providing access to the future local centre. The proposed route avoids the areas of steeper topography and major floodplains, and allows future land use to be integrated on both sides of the corridor and provides for the development of a local centre and a public transport interchange.
