NEWS RELEASE
9 September 2015

Island Bay Parade upgrade to start soon

Island Bay will soon have new kerbside cycle lanes between Shorland and Wakefield parks, and four new pedestrian crossings to make The Parade safer and easier to get across.

The upgrade work will begin on Monday 28 September and be finished before the Island Bay Festival in mid-February.

Acting Mayor Justin Lester says the improvements are just one example of the sort of changes Wellingtonians can expect to see as the Council transforms other parts of the city’s transport network to give people more choice in how they get around.

“Safe, sustainable transport options are what people expect in smart cities these days. It’s absolutely essential to provide them if we want to continue to be internationally recognised as a great place to live, work and visit.”

Councillor Andy Foster, who chairs the Council’s Transport and Urban Development Committee, says Wellingtonians are more likely than anyone else in the country to get to work or study on foot, by bike or public transport.

“But we can always do better. Research shows a lot more of us would like to make short trips by bike if it was safer,” he says. “The new kerbside lanes in Island Bay will make that possible. People of all ages will be able to bike at their own pace, in everyday clothes, and away from most traffic.

“The upgrade will also give people who walk more places where they can safely cross, improve the visibility at intersections, and include new-look bus stops with cycle by-passes.”

Cr Foster says the new cycle facilities will eventually be part of a safer commuter route to the city from the southern suburbs. In the meantime, they will provide a safe, active way to get around the suburb.

Changes will be made in the shopping centre to encourage safer speeds in line with recommendations by the Island Bay Cycleway community working party. This will involve raising the two existing zebra crossings to footpath height and putting in speed humps on either side.

The construction work will begin at the south end of the shopping centre near the library and move north towards Dover Street, so that work around the main retail area can be completed ahead of the busy Christmas period.

The contractors will then work south from the library towards Reef Street.

The construction programme is still being finalised but it is likely there will be construction crews working in two different areas at any one time. Work in each area will take about 4 to 6 weeks.

The cycle lanes won’t be obvious until the road marking changes happen towards the end of the upgrade.

The Council has engaged contractors Ventia to do the work. Normal work hours will beMonday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm.

Anyone wanting to sign up for regular project updates should email transport@wcc.govt.nz

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