The Basin Reserve road network is an important link in the Wellington Road of National Significance (RoNS), the State Highway 1 corridor between Levin and Wellington Airport. The improvements will assist the smooth flow of traffic between Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington Hospital and Wellington Airport, an issue addressed in the Ngauranga to Airport Strategic Study.
As an important passenger and commuter link for both the Wellington region and Wellington city, this project will involve a partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and Wellington City Council (WCC).
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) is also working with NZTA on this project because of the historic importance of the Basin Reserve and surrounding area. Apart from the Basin cricket ground, the nearby area includes the National War Memorial and planned Memorial Park Project on Buckle Street. This is an important consideration for the urban designers and design engineers as the project progresses.
Project objectives are:
- Contribute to providing a high quality, high capacity, fast and reliable passenger transport spine, as part of the Wellington Road of National Significance (RoNS) from Levin to Wellington Airport.
- Enhance State Highway 1 (SH1) through-traffic, particularly to Wellington Airport and Wellington Hospital, to improve reliability and travel times.
- Enhance the amenity, safety and convenience for people who walk and cycle.
The project area
The planned transport improvements will be around the Basin Reserve which is:
- the intersection of SH1 with major local roads (Kent/Cambridge Terraces and Adelaide Road)
- at a junction of land uses surrounded by commercial, residential, recreational and social activities
- at the end of the CBD, acting as a transition between higher and lower density land uses
- part of a major passenger transport spine between the CBD and southern and eastern suburbs
- a key route for pedestrians and cyclists
- an international first class cricket venue.
Why is this project necessary?
The transport corridor between Ngauranga and Wellington Airport is considered a critical part of the Greater Wellington Region’s strategic transport network. It incorporates the gateways to Wellington’s CBD, port, hospital, airport, main trunk railway and State Highway 1.
The Ngauranga to Airport Study investigated ways in which Wellington’s transport systems could be improved to accommodate the anticipated population growth. The study found that transport improvements where SH1 intersects with Kent/Cambridge Terrace and Adelaide Road at the Basin Reserve should be given the highest priority.
