Temporary road to ease traffic nightmare in Auckland suburb
A temporary road will soon open in one of Auckland’s fastest growing suburbs after complaints about gridlocked roads and school traffic chaos.
By Torika Tokalau of Local Democracy Reporting
Auckland Transport has completed a temporary road at Scott Point, a suburb in northwest Auckland, which will provide a vital link between residents and nearby Hobsonville Point.
Upper Harbour Local Board member Uzra Balouch said the temporary road is important because the whole community comes to a standstill every time a new house is built.
“When a developer starts work on Scott Road, there is only one way in and out. The whole community is reduced to one lane,” Balouch said.
“So we’ve had people driving over footpaths, ambulances won’t come down the road because you’d be driving in ditches. It’s caused frustration in the community and it’s made the whole community vulnerable.”
The new road, connecting Squadron Rd and Joshua Carder Dr, will provide another access road to the community.
Balouch said developers are responsible for building roads in front of their land, before vesting it to AT, so their delays should not “hold a community of 5000 people to ransom”.
“What you have to keep in mind is this is one single in-and-out road of the community.
“So as the population is growing, developers are doing their bit, and the road will get reduced to one lane. That builds alot of angst and frustration in the community.”
Scott Point School principal Pam King said she was delighted to see action being taken.
Hundreds of children were constantly late to school because of the traffic chaos and lack of road options for residents.
“It is particularly pleasing to see this practical solution come to fruition,” King said.
“While the community has previously been advised that such a connection was not feasible, this outcome demonstrates what can be achieved when stakeholders work collaboratively and focus on finding sensible, community-centred solutions."
Scott Point's development is led by several private developers, meaning they are responsible for the planning, design and construction of new roads, footpaths and street lights of a new subdivision.
“This additional access route will significantly improve connectivity for our families and residents, ensuring the community is not isolated when the existing one-way access via Scott Road is unavailable for any reason.”
Scott Point has more than 5000 residents and its population is projected to increase to 20,000 in a few years.
An AT spokesperson said the temporary access road was in response to ongoing community concerns, and the need to improve network access and resilience.
It will provide additional temporary access in the interim, until the private developer can build a permanent road to connect Squadron Dr to Joshua Carder Dr.
“The temporary access road will follow the route of an old driveway and is being built on land that is partly within the road corridor and land that is partly managed by Auckland Council Parks,” he said.
AT said it will have strict usage conditions, including a 30kph speed limit at all times, no parking and only light vehicles (no heavy vehicles such as trucks) will be able to use it.
“Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted to use the temporary access road to limit any safety issues. They will have to use the walkway through the sports park and signage will be in place to communicate this.”
The temporary access road cost $100,000 to complete, and will open this month.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.