Pedestrian safety and access in the city centre has taken another step forward with the removal of three ‘free left turns’ at intersections as part of the upgrade of Beach Road.
More than a quarter of the turns (11 out of 40) have now been removed from the city centre since 2012, when the City Centre Masterplan (CCMP) advocated their removal. A free left turn is one where traffic is regulated by lights when going straight or turning right, but vehicles can turn left without a signal.
Waitematā Local Board chair Shale Chambers says, “These turns can make crossing a road unsafe and unpleasant for people on foot, especially for younger or vulnerable pedestrians, so it’s great to see this progress in such a short space of time.
“The city centre is rapidly becoming a much more pleasant place to walk, with these improvements adding to the creation of a laneway circuit. This helps the centre buzz, which in turn attracts people and – crucially – business investment. “
The completion of stage two of the Beach Rd project by the council and Auckland Transport removed the free left turns at the intersections with Britomart Place and Tangihua Street. The first stage of the Beach Rd upgrade removed two others, while more have been removed along Mayoral Drive and at the bottom of Albert Street.
Council design champion Ludo Campbell-Reid says, “Free left turns tend to create oversized intersections that encourage vehicles to travel too fast, compromising pedestrian safety. Instead, the focus needs to be on creating a vibrant and pleasant walking, shopping or browsing environment, where people can walk with confidence.
“Rather than being anti-car, removing these slip lanes can be a win for everyone. If people can cross more quickly, this can also reduce waiting times for cars.”
The remaining 29 include four along Symonds Street, eight along the Grafton Gully and five surrounding Victoria Park.
