Road safety

SH1 shops footpath repair and widening finally underway

• • Announcements, Road safety

Contractors Mills & Albert have confirmed with PCC that they will be starting the widening and resurfacing of the shared SH1 footpath from the Pukerua Bay shops north to the overbridge next Tuesday, 19th of May. This was originally scheduled for 23rd of March, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 lock-down.

The red line indicates the extent of the works, from the shops north to the overbridge. The blue line indicates the footpath diversion while the work takes place.

This $45,000 Porirua City Council village planning project has been in the pipe for at least ten years to improve the safety of pedestrian and cyclists along SH1. It is now going ahead with matched funding from NZTA to bring the total project funding to $90,000. This funding will allow bringing the pathway up to the required NZTA standard for shared pathways, in particular that it be a minimum of two metres wide.

The existing footpath path will be widened up to 400 mm in some places with wooden edging and retaining walls where necessary. In the three locations where the path is failing and slipping down the adjacent slope, a full width path reinstatement with be undertaken. At the end of the widening works, the widened areas will be full-width resurfaced.

The minimum NZTA standard width for a shared pathway is two metres.

Footpath diversion will be in place

Mills & Albert estimate the works will take 20 working days. During this time unfortunately a footpath diversion will be in place, similar to when the retaining wall was constructed last year, but for only 4 weeks. In addition, the shortcut to the shops across the school field will be cordoned off and unavailable while this work is being done.

You will also be able to go between the overbridge and the shops via Te Motu Road and the SH1 pedestrian refuge at the shops.

These signs from the retaining wall works will be reused.

Replacement retaining wall along coast road

• • Coastal, Road safety


The NZTA contractors have been busy little beavers lately, fixing the debris fence and retaining wall above Brendon Beach. Now, they’re about to start on the retaining wall on the sea side of the layby near the Three Sisters Rocks.

A new crib wall is being built on the seaward side of the lane between the two laybys to replace the one which has been almost destroyed by storms and constant strong wave action.

  • From Wednesday 10 July for three weeks — weather permitting.
  • Work will be conducted during the day.
  • The laybys and lane will become a worksite and will be closed to traffic.
  • Minimal impact on traffic — all work will be off the road but there will be trucks coming and going.
  • The shared path beside the road will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the works.

Metered traffic lights at Paremata Roundabout

• • Road safety

Metered traffic lights for northbound traffic at Paremata Roundabout will be operational from Monday 1 July.

With the creation of an extra 72 car parks at Paremata Park and Ride, expected to be completed by the end of July, additional rail customers are likely to exit the Park and Ride at peak times.

Initially the lights will be set to operate between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays, and triggered when southbound or Park and Ride queues reach a certain length. Once they are triggered, the lights will hold northbound traffic for between 15 and 30 seconds, allowing southbound and Park and Ride traffic to enter the roundabout.

When the red light switches off, northbound traffic will be able to enter the roundabout for between 45-60 seconds, before the cycle starts again. This metered traffic light will have no green light and will only operate at certain times of the day.

NZTA will be actively monitoring how well the lights are operating in the weeks following their introduction. In the event queues get too long they have the option of immediately adjust the timing,or can turn them off completely. Give way rules will still apply.

You can stay updated on this project via the project website.

The full press release can be found on the NZTA website.

Survey: road safety measures on Rawhiti Road and Teihana Road

• • Consultation, Road safety, School

Note: this survey is now closed. We will provide your feedback to Porirua City Council.

In 2016 the Residents’ Association was approached about concerns around children’s and pedestrians’ safety outside the school. Recently Porirua City Council presented us their plans to make Rawhiti Road and Teihana Road safer, as outlined here. They propose that the following safety measures be put in place:

  • Extend a footpath on Rawhiti Road for 220m from number 92 to the corner of Wairaka Road
  • Construct a pedestrian zebra crossing with refuge island on Teihana Road, outside number 10.
  • Proposed footpath on Rawhiti Road.
  • Proposed crossing on Teihana Road.

If you are a local resident, please fill out this short survey; your feedback is most appreciated.

(Survey now closed)

Repairs starting on SH1 footpath next week

• • Road safety

Fantastic news! Repairs will start on the retaining wall under the footpath on State Highway 1 between the shops and pedestrian bridge next week. The footpath will be closed during this time, and you’ll have to go around it (along Te Motu Rd and Rawhiti Road, or cut through the school).

We received the following media statement from Porirua City Council yesterday:

Pukerua Bay work underway

A section of footpath in Pukerua Bay will be closed for six weeks, starting next week, due to retaining wall work.

General Manager City Infrastructure Mike Evans says the work is scheduled to start on Wednesday 21 November.

“Work will be done on the footpath just south of the pedestrian overpass at Pukerua Bay (between the shops at Pukerua Bay and Te Kura Road) and the footpath will be closed while the work is being carried out.

“For safety reasons, pedestrians will not be able to access the footpath and will need to use the Rawhiti Road overbridge instead.

“The contractor will put up signs and barriers, and we are advising cyclists and pedestrians to be cautious when they are in the area and use the overbridge when they are travelling between the shops at Pukerua Bay and Te Kura Road. During this time, the road shoulder will also be closed, so cyclists are also advised to use the overbridge.

The work is weather dependent but is expected to take around six weeks. “We appreciate everyone’s patience while the work is being carried out,” says Mr Evans.

We will issue main updates through the Pukerua Bay Residents Association and the Porirua City Facebook channels and on poriruacity.govt.nz/pukerua-bay-works.

It was thought the speed limit was going to be reduced, but Capital Journeys has told us that isn’t going to happen.

Appreciation from Motorists

• • Road safety •

We’ve received some lovely positive feedback from truck drivers and other motorists who were stranded in Pukerua Bay last week due to the accident and spill clean-up, thanking locals for their time, care and refreshments. We’d like to pass on their appreciation, and add ours as well, to all those residents of Pukerua Bay who helped out on the day!

“You guys rock, thanks for the food drink and your generous donations of time and chat talking to my fellow drivers. What you have done as a community far outweighs all expectations.”
— Mark Salisbury

“From all the truckies that were stranded yesterday, a huge thanks to the residents that came out to provide water and food. Community resilience at its best.”
— Axel Alexander

From us here in Pukerua Bay, you’re welcome!  🙂

We’ve also had an offer from Mainfreight to contribute something for the upcoming AGM in appreciation. Thanks again to all involved; pop along, and we’ll see you there!

New highway pedestrian cross by shops

• • Road safety

This Sunday night, 10 June, NZTA contractors will start building a crossing by the shops that pedestrians can use to get across the highway.

This is a proposal NZTA brought to the Residents Association over 18 months ago, and it’s finally being built!

As you can see in the picture, it is at the end of the car park, opposite Reds.

There is a 2.5m wide refuge in the middle of the road where pedestrians can stand, with rails on either side of the refuge, and 4m long islands running north and south.

The work will start 7pm Sunday night, and go until 5:30am. Night work will be spread over five nights, with some finishing work during the day, There will be stop/go traffic management in place during the work.

Once it’s built, vehicles will still be able to turn left out of the car park to go north, but won’t be able to turn right to go south from the toilet end of the car park. We’ll also have to get used to the refuge being in the middle of the road when turning right into Teihaha Road.

We’re pretty pleased, after many years of lobbying, to finally get some sort of safe crossing. It might not be perfect, but it’s better than the nothing we have at the moment!

Tree trimming to prevent power blackouts

• • Road safety

Starting next Sunday night (9 July), the New Zealand Transport Agency and Porirua City Council will be trimming vegetation along State Highway 1 to clear power lines. This work will go on for eight nights, and also includes some other maintenance and road safety work. It follows the power cut from three weeks ago, which was caused by trees growing through the lines.

They’ve provided the following information for Pukerua Bay residents. …

Tree trimming to prevent power blackoutsRead More »