The Botanic Garden ki Paekākā route is being installed in sections:
The intersection changes will make crossing here safer and easier, and are part of Let’s Get Wellington Moving’s programme of central city walking improvements. Work is scheduled to start in late August.
The big changes are:
In advance of the bike and bus lanes, we're also installing underground ducts for the traffic signals, vehicle and bike detection loops that trigger the lights and bike-friendly stormwater drain grates.
We’re having to work around the construction happening at 46 Bowen Street (uphill from The Terrace). Once that project is finished, there will be a new bus stop and better connections for people on foot.
We expect this section to be complete in early 2023.
Our first step along this section is making changes at the intersection of Bowen Street and Tinakori Road. This involves changing the kerb line to reduce the pinch point between people on bikes and in vehicles as they turn the corner. This also includes installing tactile pavers at the crossing points for people walking. We expect this intersection work to take approximately three weeks.
From the Bowen Street/The Terrace intersection and the entrance to Botanic Garden ki Paekākā, we will install a separated uphill bike lane. In the downhill direction, there will be a shared bus/bike lane between 7am-10am along Tinakori Road, and a full-time shared bus/bike lane down Bowen Street.
Once work begins in this section, coupon parking and clearways will be removed along Tinakori Road between the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā and Bowen Street, and from on both sides of Bowen Street through to Lambton Quay. An additional mobility park will be installed outside the Ministry of Education building. Read more about parking changes and alternative parking options.
A new bus stop platform will be installed on Tinakori Road opposite St Mary Street. At these bus stop platforms, bus users have the right of way. Everyone should check for bikes and take extra care. People on bikes should slow down and stop for people getting on and off buses.
Buses will stop within the traffic lane, so vehicles will need to wait behind a bus when it's picking up or dropping off passengers. In-lane bus stops ilke these help improve the bus service efficiency.
We expect this section to be complete by early January 2023.
Separated bike lanes will be installed on both sides of Whitmore Street between the waterfront and the Lambton Quay/Bowen Street intersection. Car parking spaces along Whitmore Street will be removed as soon as this work gets underway.
Changes along here will also include relocating the taxi stand from Whitmore Street to Stout Street, and removing the right turn into Stout Street.
We expect this section to be completed in early 2023.
Our contractor, Downer, will do the work, which involves painting new road markings and installing physical dividers between bike lanes and bus lanes, low rubber speed humps that can easily be driven over at driveways, and a new raised platform made of modular recycled material at the new Tinakori Road in-lane bus stop.
Work hours will generally be 9am to 4pm. The work will be coordinated to minimise traffic disruption at peak times. There will be a 30km/h speed limit around the immediate work area.
Cones and barriers will be in place where required, but people will be able to get to shops and businesses in the vicinity, and people walking will still be able to safely get past the work site and cross the road. If any issue should arise around access or deliveries, construction staff on site will be able to help.
Bus stops will be moved slightly while work happens and people on bikes will have to ride in the bus or traffic lane as directed by traffic management until each section of the route is complete and fully open.
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Once these changes are made, we’ll be asking for further feedback on how the new bike and bus lanes are working as people get used to the street layouts. Tweaks can be made to iron out any minor issues and make improvements.
We’ll be gathering data on things like numbers of people on bikes and buses and how safe people walking and cycling feel before and after the new layout.
Feedback about more substantial changes will be passed on to the Let’s Get Wellington Moving programme, as more transformative changes along this route will be made when the planned mass rapid transit is installed.
If you've got feedback on how things are going during the installation process, we're keen to hear from you. We have a quick questionnaire available here.