Improving the ways of travelling along the busy Lake Road corridor are up for public feedback as consultation on the Lake Road Improvements project starts today.
Auckland Transport is seeking feedback from the community on proposals for a $47M upgrade of Lake Road, Esmonde Road and Bayswater Avenue.
The proposals include fully protected safer cycle lanes along the peninsula, targeted transit lanes (T2 lanes), other safety improvements and intersection upgrades as well as a new shared walking/cycling path on Bayswater Avenue.
These improvements will assist in giving people more opportunity to make shorter trips safely on foot or by bike, or by bus or carpooling, and will free up road space for people who need to drive.
This round of public feedback follows on from previous consultation in 2017, in which the public favoured finding ways to improve the corridor as soon as possible, as well as avoiding an expensive and disruptive road widening project.
The proposals, as well as using new roadside electronic signs to provide real-time traffic updates, will help people in the area make travel choices early to avoid joining the congestion along Lake Road.
North Shore ward councillors Chris Darby and Richard Hills believe the Lake Road Improvements project will introduce better options for people travelling around the area.
“Anyone that’s driven along Lake Road is aware how unreliable and frustrating it can be. More than half the journeys along Lake Road stay within the peninsula, so by having different ways people can travel around the area, either by carpooling, using the bus or cycling, this will free up space on the corridor and improve reliability and travel times,” says Councillor Darby.
“During the last consultation in 2017, the feedback was loud and clear that the community didn’t want a project that would take 10 years to complete, or that would require property to be purchased and homes to be demolished to create extra traffic lanes.
"The proposals support the feedback by working mainly within the existing road corridor, but they also encourage more journeys, and options to travel by public transport, walking and cycling,” adds Councillor Hills.
Auckland Council is also welcoming feedback on a revitalised Belmont Centre precinct, with a number of enhancements, including new public spaces, relocated bus stops and improved pedestrian crossings being proposed.
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Chair Aidan Bennett says he is thrilled with the attention being paid to Belmont and the collaboration happening between Auckland Transport’s project team and the community.
“As well as the Lake Road Improvements, we’re also really keen to get feedback on the proposals for the Belmont Centre upgrade. It’s still early in the design phase, but I understand the collaboration has identified a number of ways to revitalise the busy Belmont shops area and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board is looking forward to good public feedback to ensure the best outcome for the community.”
The Lake Road Improvements consultation is open from Monday 16 March – Sunday 12 April 2020.
