Paul FitzGerald

Shared Cycle & Pedestrian Pathway update

Pukerua Bay shared pathway improvements due to start September 2022

PCC has provided the following information:

Work to continue upgrading the shared pathway through Pukerua Bay is due to start next month.

This work is Stage Two of a project that began last year and will include upgrades to the intersections at Pukerua Beach Rd / Haunui Rd / SH59 and Wairaka Rd / SH59 (See layout plans 4, 5, 6). 

As budget allows, other improvements proposed will be delivered in the following order:

  • Haunui Rd zig-zag path realignment (moving bottom of path away from road) – Layout plan 8
  • Shared path widening (Haunui Rd to Pa Rd) – Layout plan 9
  • Pedestrian drop ramp on Haunui Rd (to provide a connection to the zig zag path) – Layout plan 7.

The work is due to start by mid-September (the exact start date is still being worked through).

Extensive traffic management will be in place for all works so residents can expect some disruptions for between 8 and 10 weeks while the works are completed. 

Pukerua Bay Residents living near the works will be notified via a letter in the coming weeks. 

Porirua City Council is managing the project, which is 100 percent funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency through its programme of highway cycle improvements.

Stage One of this project was completed in July 2021.

It included the following improvements:

  • Widening the zig zag pathway between Haunui Road and SH59 to make it easier for cyclists, particularly on the bends. This work included tree removal, re-asphalting the pathway and introducing holdrail in places
  • Improved pathway directional signage from the lookout at the northern end of Pukerua Bay to Porirua Railway Station
  • Pedestrian improvements through the northern lookout site.

*NB: In response to resident’s requests, extensive conversations were had with Waka Kotahi about installing a barrier or similar at the bottom of the zig-zag path to stop an errant rider from landing on SH59, however the barrier needed to be able to be compliant for vehicle drivers and not just provide protection for cyclists which meant that what was suitable for protecting cyclists was not safe or acceptable for the road environment and passing traffic. We have therefore opted to remove a couple of trees at the bottom of the zig-zag and widen the path to improve sightlines between path users at this pinch point.

Wairaka Rd and SH59
Pukerua Beach Rd and SH59
Pukerua Beach Rd and SH59
Haunui Rd Entrance to Pathway
Haunui Rd to SH59 Pathway
From Haunui pathway to Pa Road

Shared Cycle & Pedestrian Pathway update Read More »

SH59 – Pukerua Bay barrier repair tonight, Tuesday 9 Aug

Waka Kotahi has advised there will be work tonight to repair the crash barrier at the corner of State Highway 59 and Pukerua Beach Road (map). The work is being done at night when there are fewer vehicles so it can complete the job quickly, efficiently and safely without causing major traffic delays.

map for corner of SH59 and Pukerua Beach Road
Work area, corner State Highway 59 and Pukerua Beach Road (map)

SH59 – Pukerua Bay barrier repair tonight, Tuesday 9 Aug Read More »

Road works SH59 Pukerua Bay to Paekakariki

Waka Kotahi have advised the following:

Good afternoon,
Due to the weather the daytime stop/go for road repairs on Coast Road, between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki has been moved to Thursday 28 July and Friday 29 July.
We are keeping an eye on the weather and will let you know if these dates change.
Ngā mihi,

Anita De Klerk, Customer Communications and Engagement Advisor
Wellington Transport Alliance

Road works SH59 Pukerua Bay to Paekakariki Read More »

Storm Water reporting Wellington Water

FromWellington Water
Do you live in Pukerua Bay or Whitby? 🤔
We’re working hard to reduce the risk of flooding and keep our communities safe, now and into the future, but we need your help! 🙋‍♀️
💧 Does your garden fill up with water when it rains?
💧 What about your street?
💧 Your local school?
Currently, Wellington Water is mapping areas in Porirua which we suspect are prone to flooding in heavy rainfall events. 🌧
To ensure these flood hazard maps are as accurate as possible, we need you to tell us about your flooding experiences in Pukerua Bay and Whitby. 🧑‍💻
Share your experiences with us here 👇
https://bit.ly/3EalIKg

Storm Water reporting Wellington Water Read More »

Beach Road Closure Wed 16 Feb 9am to 1pm.

PCC have just advised that it will be closing Pukerua Beach Road between 9am and 1pm tomorrow (Wednesday).

There will be emergency access, however residents are urged to find alternate access options or to remain at home during this time.

Given the narrow nature of Pukerua Beach Road, a full closure is required to carry out work to construct a bund on the coastal side of the road to prevent water going down the bank. This is one of the actions recommended by geotechnical advisors ENGEO.

Claire Giblin will be writing a fuller community update, which will sent out later today but wanted to alert residents to the closure as soon as possible.

PCC apologises for the inconvenience.


Beach Road Closure Wed 16 Feb 9am to 1pm. Read More »

Pukerua Beach Road –Ocean Parade

Latest reports from PCC re the Pukerua Beach Road situation.

Council has a geologist on site at the moment and PCC will give updates. Its all just precautionary at this point. Its been challenging weather across the whole city this weekend. There have just been reports of some cracks on Pukerua Beach Rd so they are assessing that currently and any slip risks to Ocean Parade.
.
There are numerous crews out this way assessing the conditions. and a few PCC staff on the ground speaking to the residents who may be impacted. PCC wanted to reassure residents that Downer will be on site all night and PCC Emergency staff are also here should anyone need support with finding alternative accommodation (should any areas be deemed unsafe – which has not been confirmed). PCC will send an update when there more info from the crew on the ground.

Pukerua Beach Road –Ocean Parade Read More »

Update from PCC on Pukerua Beach Road Slips

Good morning,

This email is intended to update you on our progress with the investigation around the slips on Pukerua Bay Beach Road.

Our thanks to the residents who have worked with the Council and geotechnical specialists ENGEO to share their knowledge, and allow us access to their properties.

We received ENGEO’s latest report yesterday. We will make it available once we’ve had time to review it and are able to confirm our preferred options. We are looking at several stability options with ENGEO and will need to align them with available funding.

We appreciate you are keen to see some action and we ask you to be patient so we can fully understand the cause of the slips and plan accordingly.

Our maintenance contractor Downer continues to monitor the road during heavy rain, and clear rock falls, as it did last weekend.

ENGEO has good local knowledge of the area and underlying issues having been involved with investigations into the following slips:
• 6 Ocean Parade (November 2016).
• 7A Haunui Way (2017 – 2018).
• 41 Haunui Road (October 2018).
• 57 Haunui Road (November 2020).
• 47 Haunui Road (December 2020).
• 19 Ocean Parade (March to August 2021).
• 1 Ocean Parade (8 December 2021).

The two (2) crib walls on Pukerua Beach Road are a separate matter to the slips but will also be investigated (to come).

Wellington Water recently undertook a leak detection survey of the water pipes in the area above Pukerua Beach Road:
• Two (2) minor leaks were discovered.
• To the best of their knowledge there are no stormwater pipes in the area.
• Residents’ stormwater is discharged to the ground via soakage pits.
• The likelihood that a leaky potable and/or stormwater pipe is contributing to the groundwater concerns in the area is very unlikely.
• An assessment of potential leaks from sewerage pipes is ongoing.

The common theme in all these slips is that they appear to be the result of erosion from water flow of both surface water and groundwater. It is understood that many, if not all, of the stormwater drains from the properties along Haunui Way and Haunui Road discharge directly to the ground, and this combined with natural infiltration of surface water through highly permeable surface soils, is the likely main reason for high groundwater flows in the area.

Rest assured remedial actions are in the planning phase and will be programmed accordingly (especially external funding).

We will continue to keep in touch as our investigations continue, and welcome your feedback.


Ngā mihi
Claire

Update from PCC on Pukerua Beach Road Slips Read More »