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.