Auckland Transport media release

14 October 2016

Albany Highway North upgrade completed early

The upgrade of a key route on the North Shore has been completed six months ahead of schedule.

Auckland Transport has upgraded 3.8km of Albany North Highway and the new $40 million road has been opened this morning.

The work includes the widening of the road to four lanes – two for general traffic and two T2 transit lanes for buses and vehicles carrying two or more people.

The transit lanes will make using public transport a more attractive prospect, particularly for students and commuters, by improving morning and afternoon peak travel times. Outside peak times, the transit lane will operate as a general traffic lane.

About 17,000 vehicles, as well as cyclists and pedestrians, use Albany Highway every day, and it also serves the North Harbour industrial estate, four schools, Massey University and a cluster of residential estates.

Pedestrians and cyclists will welcome on and off road cycle facilities and a wider footpath in both directions. Segregated pedestrian footpaths and cycle paths have been constructed where practicable, with a shared path otherwise provided. It is hoped that these additions will make cycling and walking a more attractive and safer prospect for local residents, students and commuters who use the highway each day.

Greg Edmonds, Auckland Transport Chief Infrastructure Officer says “These improvements will be of great benefit to the local community, and in particular the 5,000 children who go to the schools there.

“The upgrade improves safety significantly, encourages the use of public transport as well as cycling and walking alternatives”.

Ernst Zollner, NZ Transport Agency Auckland Director says “This upgrade has been a priority investment for the Government through the Transport Agency, to help ease congestion, provide improved journey time reliability and improve road safety in a bustling and developing part of Auckland.

Other features of the Albany Highway North upgrade;

• roundabouts at the intersections with Rosedale, Bass and Wharf Roads have been replaced with traffic signals to improve traffic flow and provide safe pedestrian crossing points

• new planted central medians have been put in to improve road safety and make the route more attractive

• two new mid-block signalised pedestrian crossings have been installed

• a new four-lane bridge over the Oteha Stream (Days Bridge) has been built

• storm water treatment devices have been fitted to improve the quality of run-off into local streams

• main utility services have been relocated and/or installed underground

For more detailed information on the Albany Highway North Upgrade, visit www.at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks

Video: “Albany Highway upgrade makes travel safer for kids” https://vimeo.com/187110501?utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749

ENDS

© Scoop Media