Check the app to avoid congestion on Devonport's Lake Rd: Auckland Transport

Tuesday, 12 December 2017

Technology is key to solving traffic congestion on one of Auckland's most congested roads, Devonport's Lake Rd, according to Auckland Transport.

In June and July, Auckland Transport AT consulted on three options for upgrades to reduce congestion, at different costs - $10 million (low), $40 million (medium) and $70 million (high). At the time, AT said its preferred option was the medium cost and timeline option.

Of 1131 public submissions, including a petition  with 179 signatures advocating a new bypass road to the west, 36 per cent supported the high-investment option, which involved widening the road and would take at least 10 years to complete.

Another 34 per cent supported the medium investment, which would take five years to complete, and 12 per cent preferred the low level of investment. 

**READ MORE:

* Residents would pay to sort out one of Auckland's most congested routes

* Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chairman wants urgent solution for Lake Rd

* 'Vague' timeframe for urgent $70 million upgrade to Auckland bottleneck Lake Rd

* Notorious bottleneck, Lake Rd, upgrades revealed costing $10M to $70M-plus**

AT described support for the high and medium options as similar in its feedback report and confirmed its support for the medium option.

This would now be developed into a Detailed Business Case (DBC).

AT said the detailed design would most likely include: road widening at specific locations by moving the kerb, converting the existing bus lane along Esmonde Road into a transit lane, targeted use of transit lanes along Lake Road, a cycle lane along Lake Road (physically separated, if possible), and a new physically separated cycle lane along Bayswater Ave.

AT proposed a greater use of technology would assist by conveying up-to-date travel information. This could include a real-time journey planner, apps for ride sharing and showing traffic conditions, and roadside variable message signs with information on travel conditions.

Other themes identified in the public feedback included that 32 per cent of respondents were concerned the improvements would take too long or were overdue.

The feedback report can be viewed on the website at.govt.nz/haveyoursay under 'previous consultations'