7 February 2024
File Reference: IRC-5817
Mike
[FYI request #25219 email]
Tēnā koe Mike
Thank you for your email dated 18 December 2023, to Wellington City Council (the Council),
requesting information regarding road maintenance and the Newtown to City bike lanes
under the Local government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). Please
find my response below.
1. Some of our main arterial routes in the city are showing signs of wear and lack of
maintenance. I would like to know the WCC's schedule for resealing the following
roads which are a patchwork of repairs, old painted over road markings and very
uneven surfaces:
I can confirm that there are plans for resurfacing and/or pre-sealing to be validated* for the
2024/25 financial year (beginning 1 July 2024).
* In this circumstance, validation is the inspection by a qualified person (such as a roading
engineer) and selection/confirmation for the future.
a. Willis Street from the bypass to Boulcott Street.
Sections between Bypass and Ghuznee Street are now on hold due to a building
construction. This section will be validated in the next financial year when the building is
completed. Sections between Ghuznee Street and Boulcott Street is on this year’s
programme for resurfacing.
b. Taranaki Street – all
Taranaki Street was deferred due to the Wel ington Water drainage trenching works. Some
of the more damaged areas such as the Ghuznee Street intersection are scheduled for
minor maintenance this year.
c. Vivian Street – all
Vivian Street is maintained by Waka Kotahi | New Zealand Transport Authority and
therefore we are unable to comment on any future plans for improvements.
d. The footpaths along Cuba Street, specifically from Ghuznee Street to Vivian
St.
A footpath review for Cuba Street was completed by consultants in November 2023. Reports
advised that the footpaths are all in average to excellent condition, except for a small 20
metre section classed as poor near Vivian Street. Any sites that gave cause for concern wil
be double checked when we begin works in the area.
2. In addition, I would like to know if the council has done any traffic impact analysis on
the traffic flows along Kent and Cambridge Terrace since the poorly designed bike
lanes have been introduced. Traffic congestion is worse, especially for those turning
left onto Majoribanks Street from Kent Terrace. Please send me data from
before/after the bike lanes were put in place.
Prior to the installation of the Newtown to City bike and bus improvements, traffic modelling
was done to evaluate the effects of the road layout changes at several key intersections. A
copy of these results is being released to you in full.
Post installation we have been monitoring the congestion, and as expected, queue times
have gotten longer. In response to this, the traffic signal phasing at the Kent Terrace and
Majoribanks Street intersection was altered and this has made a positive impact on queue
times. We are still monitoring the effects of these changes, but we have seen a significant
decrease in queue duration, however we are aware that the queues are stil longer than
they were before installation.
The Council are currently planning some further tweaks that are expected to decrease
queues further in the coming month and larger intersection changes will be made as part of
the Golden Mile project that will begin this year.
3. Also, are the cheap looking 'parks' now blocking the turn roads between Kent and
Cambridge permanent fixtures?
The U-turn areas between Kent Terrace and Cambridge Street have been closed to general
traffic to improve safety along the route by reducing the risk of vehicles crossing a two-way
cycleway. We have made some changes to the Elizabeth Street intersection to reduce the
delay to vehicles at this site. There are currently no plans to re-open the U-turn spaces to
general traffic, however some amendments made to the aesthetic of the spaces.
I trust this response is of assistance to you. If you require further information, please
contact
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Danika Morris-Brown
Senior Advisor - Official Information
Wellington City Council
