Opening up the intersection for people walking and on bikes
A major upgrade of the intersection of Rongotai Road, Onepu Road and Evans Bay Parade will begin in mid-2023 and will take about six months.
The upgrade has been in the pipeline for some time and is almost ready to go. It will make it easier for pedestrians to get to and from the existing bus hub, which was completed several years ago. It will also link with existing bike lanes and paths, and if approved, connect with new ones planned.
It is not a part of the Kilbirnie Connections project or consultation, but will complement the other changes being proposed in the area to make low and zero-carbon trips in the Kilbirnie area possible for more people.
We’ll be simplifying the intersection, better aligning traffic lanes and resealing to make driving through and turning at this intersection safer and easier.
We’ll also be making the intersection a whole lot better for pedestrians. People walking will be able to press the button and safely cross all four sides of this intersection rather than just the two directions they can cross in now.
In addition to the places you can cross now, you’ll be able to safely get from:
- one side of the bus hub to the other
- the corner of Evans Bay Parade across to Pak n Save.
The intersection will also be safer for people on bikes. There will be dual signalised bike and pedestrian crossings and wait areas at all corners of the intersection.
When the work on the intersection happens, it is proposed the nearby pedestrian crossing on Rongotai Road be moved to a safer location between Mahora and Ross streets where it will provide easier access to nearby bus stops. The Council’s Regulatory Processes Committee will consider the proposed crossing relocation and feedback on it (traffic resolution 49-23) in April.
Following a burst pipe in the area in 2022, Wellington Water has already completed upgrade work in this vicinity.
Next steps
Detailed design for the intersection improvements and an independent safety audit have been completed. The next step is to appoint a contractor, ahead of construction beginning in mid-2023. If you have questions, you can email kilbirnieconnections@wcc.govt.nz