Local Board Members dismayed that Dairy Flat Highway/The Avenue upgrade not funded

Nicholas Mayne - Member of Upper Harbour Local Board

The Upper Harbour and Rodney Local Board members are extremely frustrated and dismayed that a long-promised project to upgrade the intersection at The Avenue and Dairy Flat Highway is not included in the latest Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) for the next 10 years.

With the growth of the surrounding area and further North and a lack of infrastructure improvements to cater for these houses, there is now a greater need to address the corridor through the Albany Village. This includes the long promised (but never delivered) upgrade of The Avenue intersection, widening the Lucas Creek Bridge, upgrading the intersection at Gills Road and creating a new link road between Gills Road and Oteha Valley Road. These improvements will significantly improve traffic safety and flow for thousands of commuters. Disappointingly none of these projects are included in the RLTP 10-year plan despite thousands of dollars being spent on previous designs and plans.

The Avenue project was committed in the North Shore City Council roading programme back in 2010 and a commitment made at the time by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to contribute 75% of the cost of the intersection upgrade as part of the revocation of State Highway 17 (Old State Highway 1). However due to the formation of the Supercity this did not occur.

In the first term of Auckland Council the Upper Harbour Local Board was advised that construction of the intersection improvements would occur in 2013 but no construction took place.

The long-awaited upgrades for The Avenue Intersection, Lucas Creek bridge and Gills Road were included and prioritised for funding in the first 3 years of the 2018/28 Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan along with the funding contribution from NZTA. This project has once again been delayed and has now been dropped off the latest 10-year plan which is currently out for public submission, meaning no improvements will take place for another 10 years.

Upper Harbour Local Board Chair Margaret Miles says “This is totally unacceptable. The increased housing in the surrounding areas along with thousands of houses being built north of the Albany Village, puts more and more pressure on The Avenue intersection and corridor. This occurs at all times of the day but is more congested at peak hours with major safety concerns for both vehicles, and for residents who wish to walk or cycle to and through Albany.”

Auckland Transport and the Local Boards promote public transport, walking and cycling.

Bus services are limited for many parts of Albany and there are no services to and from Paremoremo. Residents have expressed concerns over many years that they are fearful of walking or cycling at the intersection and across the narrow bridge over Lucas Creek.

Rodney Local Board member for Dairy Flat, Louise Johnston, said “I am deeply concerned that the steady residential growth in Milldale, Dairy Flat & Riverhead is adding to the traffic issues and that delaying this project is going to end in gridlock”

Upper Harbour and Rodney Local Board members urge residents to submit on this project and any other components of the Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031 which is currently out for submissions with closing date 2 May 2021.

Submissions can be made online on at.govt.nz...


Margaret Miles QSM JP

Chair Upper Harbour Local Board

021587111


Louise Johnston

Rodney Local Board

021729739



Anna Atkinson

Upper Harbour Local Board - Topic Area Lead – Transport

0274545094



Uzra Casuri Balouch

Upper Harbour Local Board - Topic Area Lead – Transport

021503279