Learn about our current transport improvement projects.
Find out more about this project to improve traffic flows, and pedestrian and cycle safety, along Kenepuru Drive and surrounding streets, plus read the latest updates on our dedicated Kenepuru Corridor webpage
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has set all Council's the goal of improving safety around schools.
In Porirua, the first step in that process is making physical safety improvements, such as raised pedestrian crossings and better signage.
We have 35 schools in Porirua and have written to all to make them aware of the School Safety Programme and to start the conversation around what improvements they would like to see.
The schools have been prioritised based on the safety risks affecting them, and our intention is to work with the top 40% (14) high priority schools to improve safety by 30 June 2024.
So far we have undertaken a pilot trial programme with our two top priority schools. Consultation is complete and physical works are still to be carried out - due to a number of issues outside of our control.
In mid-June 2022, we started consulting with four of our next high priority schools around proposed safety improvements, which we are aiming to deliver between November 2022 to April 2023.
Our aim with this programme is to slow traffic and improve safe access to the schools for all school users.
It will be complemented by a review of speed limits around Porirua schools, with 40 per cent to be delivered by 2024. See section 5.1 of the Government's Land Transport Rule: Setting of speed limits 2022.
Want to know more? Email our road safety team
Upgrade of Whitford Brown Ave and Papakowhai Road intersection
The project to upgrade Whitford Brown Ave and Papakowhai Road intersection is progressing.
We have identified traffic signals as the most appropriate treatment at the concept level design stage.
In addition to the benefits for general traffic, traffic signals will provide safer and improved access for people walking and cycling, particularly for school children and people visiting Aotea Lagoon.
The design will improve the right turn movements for traffic exiting Papakowhai Road travelling west to connect to SH59.
Additionally Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has also committed to providing a shared path on the southern side of Whitford Brown Avenue connecting Okowai Road to the upgraded Papakowhai Road intersection.
A package of work for the engineering professional services was tendered earlier in the year. The work involves progressing current thinking around the intersection operation, from concept design through to detailed design for construction. One of the main issues that needs to be addressed is appropriate crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Calibre won the tender.
Construction will be separately tendered once Calibre finish the design works. Construction is currently programmed for late 2023.
Constructing a permanent roundabout
November 2022
We're currently tendering for professional services to design and manage the construction of a permanent roundabout at James Cook Drive/Discovery Drive intersection.
This follows the successful trial of a temporary roundabout at this location, which was completed in October 2021.
The changes at this intersection were made prior to Transmission Gully (TG) opening, in consultation with local residents and the residents association in anticipation of:
With uncertainty as to what the new traffic volumes would actually be, a temporary roundabout was put in place to trial a design. Now that TG is open we’re able to monitor traffic flows and make any necessary adjustments to the intersection design before making it permanent.
This is required for a number of reasons:
This image shows the temporary roundabout
Roundabout preferred option
In 2020 we ran public consultation around a number of improvement options, with the favoured option, a roundabout, being supported by the majority of those who gave feedback.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) modelling estimates that 5000 vehicles are expected to use the intersection daily once Transmission Gully opens. This is up from around 4500 vehicles currently. Further modelling suggests that by 2031 the number of vehicles using the intersection each day could rise to 6000.
Just two non-injury crashes have been reported at or near the intersection in the past 10 years
Following the opening of Transmission Gully and the Whitby link road, traffic modelling has projected that a roundabout will operate well during the morning peak period with only minor delays during the evening peak period
Looking forward to 2031 it is projected that a roundabout will operate well during peak periods with only minor delays expected on the James Cook Drive southern approach during the evening peak period. Early cost estimates for this project were between $250,000 and $300,000
Advantages
Balances traffic flows evenly on all approaches during peak periods.
November 2022
We’re planning to introduce a range of cost effective, road safety improvements on some of our high risk intersections to minimise the risk of death and serious injury.
These intersections have been identified by analysis of crash records, local knowledge and resident feedback.
The intention is to trial some temporary interventions such as build-outs to narrow down sections of road to slow traffic, new road markings, new improved signage, and reconfigured crossing points.
Directly affected property owners will be engaged as part of the process.
The temporary changes will be monitored and made permanent if successful and modified or removed if not.
The highest priority intersections currently being considered for this work are:
November 2022
We’re undertaking a study of our road to road walkways to identify where staggered barriers are required in a bid to stop them being used unsafely, and illegally, as shortcuts by motorbike riders.
These barriers are intended to deter motorbikes or at least make these routes less desirable, while continuing to allow access for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and mobility scooter users. Cyclists will be able to walk a standard bike through these connections.
The highest priority locations have been brought to our attention by residents as well as other agencies such as the Police and Metlink.
We will continue to assess other walkways around the city and collate ongoing feedback to determine where barriers are required.
Some of the walkways the staggered barriers have so far been recently installed on include:
A new cycleway connecting schools, parks and public transport on Papakowhai Rd has been selected to receive $7.2 million Government funding as part of the Transport Choices initiative.
The Rural Address Property Identification (RAPID) System is a standard numbering system for rural properties in New Zealand.
Porirua City Council allocates the RAPID number for new rural properties, which is based on the distance to a property entrance from a clearly defined reference point, usually the beginning of the road on which it is located. (*The street number of a rural address is the RAPID number.)
As with all Territorial Authorities, it’s our responsibility to allocate addresses to all properties according to the AS/NZS 4819:2011 Rural and Urban Addressing Standards and LINZ’s 2019 Guidelines for Addressing In-fill Developments.
We then inform Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) of all newly allocated addresses which are added to the LINZ Address Information Management System (AIMS) Database.
Emergency Services use the address information from the AIMS database to locate properties.
To make it easier for emergency services to identify rural properties at night, rural property owners can apply to Council to have a RAPID number post with reflectorised numbers installed at the road entrance to their property entrance. This service is provided at Council's cost.
If you own a rural property and would like to apply to have a RAPID number post installed, please contact Council
Our road network covers around 270 kilometres of sealed roads, nearly more than 40 bridges and footbridges, around 430 kilometres of kerb and channel, about four kilometres of culverts, around 7350 traffic signs, four sets of traffic signals and numerous car parking lots.
We monitor all construction and repair works on the city’s roads by other council's, utilities companies, contractors and the public. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) manages State Highway 1 running north-south through the middle of the city and State Highway 58, which runs east-west and connects State Highway 1 with the Hutt Valley.
Porirua is experiencing and planning for additional considerable growth.
Annual residential growth is over twice the historical average, and there are major investments in the region such as the Eastern Porirua Regeneration Project, Porirua Adventure Park, Kenepuru Landing, Plimmerton Farms etc.
This growth, and the completion of major projects such as Transmission Gully will increase the pressure on our roading and transport network.
Porirua City Council (Council) has undertaken significant long-term planning with a Growth Strategy 2018 to 2048 and a Long-Term Infrastructure Strategy 2018 to 2038.
To accompany these and Council’s other planning initiatives, this procurement strategy outlines how Council will plan and procure the delivery of projects and services to support the transport network.
Download the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency endorsed Porirua City Council Transport Procurement Strategy (1 November 2022)”
Download the Porirua City Council Procurement Policy