What’s proposed?
The NZTA’s proposals will enable multi-modal transport solutions to be implemented between the CBD and the eastern and southern suburbs. These improvements will help to relieve congestion, free up key suburban roads to enable public transport to operate more efficiently, and provide a safe and dedicated pathway for pedestrians and cyclists all the way from Cobham Drive to Karo Street.
Proposals include:
- A bridge to the north of the Basin Reserve to improve traffic flows and to help reduce journey times for public transport
- A second Mt Victoria Tunnel
- Widening Ruahine Street and Wellington Road
- A new 2.5 km pedestrian and cycle facility between the Basin Reserve and Cobham Drive.
To find out more about these proposals have a look at the brochure (PDF, 2.51KB).
Key benefits of the proposed SH1 improvements for Wellington
For general vehicles (including freight)
The proposed improvements will:
- Increase SH1’s capacity, making it the most efficient route for vehicles travelling between the CBD and the eastern suburbs. As a result, and assuming that the improvements are in place by 2026, the number of vehicles using SH1 is likely to increase by 80% compared with today, and local roads such as Evans Bay Parade will have up to 70% less traffic in peak travelling times
- Reduce congestion for vehicles travelling between the CBD and the eastern suburbs. Today, it takes about seven minutes to travel SH1 from Cobham Drive to Buckle Street at peak times. If nothing is done, this is likely to increase to more than nine minutes by 2026 – and travel times on local roads will also get longer as SH1 is at capacity. If the SH1 improvements are in place by 2026, travel times will reduce to less than five minutes even though the number of vehicles using SH1 will increase.
For public transport
The proposed improvements will:
- Improve journey time and reliability for buses going around the Basin Reserve. For example, journey times for buses are likely to reduce by up to 35% in the morning peak between Kent and Cambridge Terraces and Adelaide Road
- Provide road space for an alternative high-quality public transport system (such as light rail) in future
- Improve bus stop facilities around the Basin Reserve
- Reduce traffic along Constable Street and Wallace Street, making bus journey times more reliable
- Potentially reduce delays for buses travelling between the bus tunnel and Kilbirnie.
For pedestrians and cyclists
The proposed improvements will:
- Improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists by providing a dedicated route along Cobham Drive to the Basin Reserve and on to the pedestrian and cycle way along Karo Drive
- Improve safety for cyclists using Evans Bay Parade owing to the significant reduction in general vehicles using this route
- Improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists around the Basin Reserve
- Provide a safer drop-off area for school students near the Basin Reserve
- Reduce traffic volumes (in 2026) by up to 35% around the Basin Reserve and up to 70% along Oriental Parade at peak travelling times, making travel safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists
- Improve access for pedestrians and cyclists to Hataitai Park.
For the city
The proposed improvements will:
- Support economic development in the CBD and, in particular, the eastern suburbs
- Help WCC in its plans to develop a Johnsonville to Kilbirnie 'growth spine'
- Provide a green corridor link between the Town Belt and Kilbirnie Park and between the War Memorial and the Basin Reserve.
For more information
For more information see Transport improvements around the Basin Reserve and Mt Victoria Tunnel to Cobham Drive.
From there you can also download the technical reports that give detailed reasons for the SH1 improvements and the various options considered.
What are the next steps?
We are currently in the investigation phase for the SH1 improvements. Following your feedback, we will advise you of our decisions on the options set out in the brochure (PDF, 2.51KB). Your feedback will also help us refine the design of the improvements before we seek the required approvals under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
We’ll further engage with the community before seeking these approvals, and at that stage will also confirm the impacts of the improvements, (such as noise) as well as how we propose to lessen these affects.
Assuming that we’re granted the necessary RMA approvals, the construction timeline will reflect the Corridor Plan (external link) and the current RoNS programme:
- The Basin Reserve improvements will be completed first to ease SH1 traffic and help achieve WCC’s plans for a high-quality public transport spine. We may also undertake some interim improvements to Ruahine Street and Wellington Road and at the intersections along the Inner City Bypass
- The second Mt Victoria Tunnel and the Ruahine Street and Wellington Road widening projects are scheduled to follow completion of the Kapiti and Transmission Gully sections of the Wellington Northern Corridor RoNS programme.
Timeline
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
2006 to 2008 |
GWRC, WCC and the NZTA undertake the Ngauranga to Airport Strategy and consult on various transport packages. |
2008 |
GWRC consults on, then adopts, the Ngauranga to Wellington Airport Corridor Plan. The Plan describes a package of multi-modal transport improvements, including the SH1 improvements to be undertaken for Wellington. |
2009 |
The government announces the RoNS programme, which includes the SH1 projects identified in the Corridor Plan. Planning for the projects begins. |
2 July - 26 August 2011 |
The NZTA seeks feedback on the proposed improvements to SH1. |
July 2011 |
GWRC starts the Wellington Public Transport Spine Feasibility Study, which will investigate options for a high-quality public transport system between the Railway Station and Newtown. |
Late 2011/early 2012 |
The NZTA announces its decisions on the options discussed in this brochure and publishes a report on feedback on the SH1 improvements. |
Mid-2012 |
The NZTA works with directly affected parties and the public in assessing the environmental effects of the SH1 improvements. |
December 2012 |
GWRC completes the Wellington Public Transport Spine Feasibility Study. |
Late 2012/early 2013 |
The NZTA lodges notice of its requirements which it anticipates will be determined by a Board of Inquiry. This process will include an opportunity for public submissions and participation in a hearing, and will take in the order of nine months to complete. |
Mid-2013 |
The detailed design of the transport improvements around the Basin Reserve begins. |
2014/15 onwards |
Construction of the improvements around the Basin Reserve is scheduled to start in either 2014 or 2015 (the interim improvements to Ruahine Street, Wellington Road and the Inner City Bypass may also start at this time). The improvements are likely to take two or three years to complete. |
