4 | Project Update December 2016

PROJECT UPDATE December 2016

The intersection of State Highway 16, Muriwai Road and Waimauku Station Road in Waimauku’s township is being replaced with a safer, more efficient roundabout, with works getting underway this summer.On behalf of the NZ Government, the NZ Transport Agency has now awarded a construction contract and work to prepare the site will begin pre-Christmas. The main construction works will start early in the New Year after the statutory holiday period to reduce the impact on traffic heading to and from Muriwai Beach.

The roundabout will be built in stages and will be completed in mid-2018. The staged approach is necessary to ensure the state highway and nearby roads are able to stay open during construction.

The $6 million project will reduce the risk of accidents and current confusion over who has right of way in peak traffic periods. It also aims to provide a safer environment for pedestrians, including school children and parents, as well as cyclists and motorists.

New footpaths and fenced pedestrian refuge islands will provide safer crossing points, with extra wide off-road cycle paths helping cyclists navigate the area.

The roundabout’s design will help to reduce speed through the intersection, as drivers will slow in order to turn, give way or stop.

“We know the community has waited a long time for this roundabout and we’re pleased to finally see it progressing,” says Auckland and Northland Highways Manager Brett Gliddon. “We’re committed to minimising construction impacts and will have construction staff available for information as the project progresses.”

Chris Deacon, Tena Kennedy & Mark Vette

WELL KNOWN COMMUNITY FACES ARE CURRENTLY FEATURING ON A NEW RANGE OF BILLBOARDS IN WAIMAUKU AND ALONG MURIWAI ROAD, ENCOURAGING LOCALS AND MOTORISTS PASSING THROUGH TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.The billboards by Auckland Transport (AT) aim to reduce speeding and the risk of serious injury from high speed crashes, and feature local heroes to help get the message through.

St Johns First Response ambulance officer Tena Kennedy (pictured) says she sees first-hand the devastating effects of road crashes. “I hope that making motorists more aware of the

serious consequences of driving at speed will keep members of my local community safe.”

Tena features alongside other Waimauku residents including Chris Deacon, Auckland Helicopter Trust paramedic and volunteer surf lifesaver; Mark Vette, animal behaviourist and media personality (both also pictured); Waimauku School Deputy

Principal Anita Newland, teacher Rob James and several children from the school.

The campaign is funded by AT and the NZ Police, and will run for several months. It is hoped the campaign will assist to reduce speed particularly in the lead up to the roundabout’s construction.

www.at.govt.nz

KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE

AT and the Transport Agency have been working with staff and students at Waimauku School this year, bringing an increased focus on road safety education into the classroom ahead of the road works.

AT Community Transport Coordinator Alex Elton-Farr worked closely with teacher Rob James to integrate a variety of programmes into the curriculum, including rolling out rural bus safety and cycle safety programmes and having Transport Agency project manager Vivianne Tadros talk at school assembly what it means to be a road engineer. Alex also ran a “Waimauku World in 2021” software competition, where the children used the popular Minecraft game to create a 3D world and simulate what the new roundabout might look like during the various construction phases.

Next year, the children will revisit Waimauku World each week and talk about the construction progress they are seeing on their

door step. They can discuss what the road works mean, including how they can be safe around any road closures,

where safe crossing places are, or what hazards and dangers are around.

Outside of the classroom, both children and parents are being encouraged to think ahead about their travel

plans when they return to school in Term 1. A “park and walk” initiative is being implemented to reduce congestion around the school and make drop off and pick up times easier.

AT and the Transport Agency will also work with the school to improve safety around the school’s crossing points, both during and

after construction.

Contact Us:Phone – 0800 4 HIGHWAYSWeb – www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/muriwai-roundabout

MURIWAI ROUNDABOUT–

CONSTRUCTION STARTS THIS

SUMMER

4 | Project Update December 2016

PROJECT UPDATE December 2016

The intersection of State Highway 16, Muriwai Road and Waimauku Station Road in Waimauku’s township is being replaced with a safer, more efficient roundabout, with works getting underway this summer.On behalf of the NZ Government, the NZ Transport Agency has now awarded a construction contract and work to prepare the site will begin pre-Christmas. The main construction works will start early in the New Year after the statutory holiday period to reduce the impact on traffic heading to and from Muriwai Beach.

The roundabout will be built in stages and will be completed in mid-2018. The staged approach is necessary to ensure the state highway and nearby roads are able to stay open during construction.

The $6 million project will reduce the risk of accidents and current confusion over who has right of way in peak traffic periods. It also aims to provide a safer environment for pedestrians, including school children and parents, as well as cyclists and motorists.

New footpaths and fenced pedestrian refuge islands will provide safer crossing points, with extra wide off-road cycle paths helping cyclists navigate the area.

The roundabout’s design will help to reduce speed through the intersection, as drivers will slow in order to turn, give way or stop.

“We know the community has waited a long time for this roundabout and we’re pleased to finally see it progressing,” says Auckland and Northland Highways Manager Brett Gliddon. “We’re committed to minimising construction impacts and will have construction staff available for information as the project progresses.”

Chris Deacon, Tena Kennedy & Mark Vette

WELL KNOWN COMMUNITY FACES ARE CURRENTLY FEATURING ON A NEW RANGE OF BILLBOARDS IN WAIMAUKU AND ALONG MURIWAI ROAD, ENCOURAGING LOCALS AND MOTORISTS PASSING THROUGH TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.The billboards by Auckland Transport (AT) aim to reduce speeding and the risk of serious injury from high speed crashes, and feature local heroes to help get the message through.

St Johns First Response ambulance officer Tena Kennedy (pictured) says she sees first-hand the devastating effects of road crashes. “I hope that making motorists more aware of the

serious consequences of driving at speed will keep members of my local community safe.”

Tena features alongside other Waimauku residents including Chris Deacon, Auckland Helicopter Trust paramedic and volunteer surf lifesaver; Mark Vette, animal behaviourist and media personality (both also pictured); Waimauku School Deputy

Principal Anita Newland, teacher Rob James and several children from the school.

The campaign is funded by AT and the NZ Police, and will run for several months. It is hoped the campaign will assist to reduce speed particularly in the lead up to the roundabout’s construction.

www.at.govt.nz

KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE

AT and the Transport Agency have been working with staff and students at Waimauku School this year, bringing an increased focus on road safety education into the classroom ahead of the road works.

AT Community Transport Coordinator Alex Elton-Farr worked closely with teacher Rob James to integrate a variety of programmes into the curriculum, including rolling out rural bus safety and cycle safety programmes and having Transport Agency project manager Vivianne Tadros talk at school assembly what it means to be a road engineer. Alex also ran a “Waimauku World in 2021” software competition, where the children used the popular Minecraft game to create a 3D world and simulate what the new roundabout might look like during the various construction phases.

Next year, the children will revisit Waimauku World each week and talk about the construction progress they are seeing on their

door step. They can discuss what the road works mean, including how they can be safe around any road closures,

where safe crossing places are, or what hazards and dangers are around.

Outside of the classroom, both children and parents are being encouraged to think ahead about their travel

plans when they return to school in Term 1. A “park and walk” initiative is being implemented to reduce congestion around the school and make drop off and pick up times easier.

AT and the Transport Agency will also work with the school to improve safety around the school’s crossing points, both during and

after construction.

Contact Us:Phone – 0800 4 HIGHWAYSWeb – www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/muriwai-roundabout

MURIWAI ROUNDABOUT–

CONSTRUCTION STARTS THIS

SUMMER