Ask Phoebe: Landscaping project by airport aims to create a 'sense of arrival'

Photo / APN

As a keen cyclist who regularly uses Ihumatao Rd near Auckland Airport I'm keen to know the future plans for this area. We note there are extensive roadworks and landscaping being carried out on the corner with George Bolt Drive and also a new road being formed off Landing Drive.

Will the new road eventually take the place of the existing Ihumatao Rd? It seems to run in parallel and was detailed on a website map before plans for a second airport runway were shelved.

However we are unable to find any current plan showing the new road layout.

Ihumatao Rd is used by hundreds of recreational and sports cyclists every week and for secondary schools competitions so we are all very keen to learn of future plans. John Bicknell, Papatoetoe, and Noeleen Sutton, Botany.

Peter Alexander, Auckland Airport's general manager of property, says a significant landscape statement is being built near the entrance to the airport to create a sense of arrival or departure. Auckland International Airport is the arrival point for over 70 per cent of all visitors to New Zealand and of course for New Zealanders who are leaving and returning to the country. It is important the airport experience represents New Zealand well to support travel trade and tourism.

The landscape statement has been designed by internationally renowned landscape architect and urban designer James Lord, who has a strong connection to New Zealand.

The landscape takes its inspiration from New Zealand's natural landscape, from the Auckland region's volcanic landscape, from the local Otuataua Stonefields and from jet engines.

It also opens up and frames views to One Tree Hill and Mangere Mountain as guests leave the airport. The project will be completed in December.

As part of a separate project, Landing Drive is being extended to accommodate further airport commercial development in The Landing precinct. Eventually this road will be part of a network that will extend through to Oruarangi Rd. The network of roads will include the gateway heritage trail, which will become the main connection between George Bolt Memorial Drive and Otuataua Stonefields.

Ihumatao Rd will eventually be closed, probably sometime after 2020, to make way for the airport's Northern Runway. The road will not be closed before the replacement roads are opened and there will still be opportunities for cyclists.

The new road layout was decided by a public planning process that was completed in 2011, and the plan is publicly available in the Manukau City Council District. There is not a flyover currently under construction.

Driving down Symonds St, then a right turn on to Grafton Rd to access Stanley St/Port, one sees two large speed signs of 80 km/h. This then changes to 50 km/h when one is in the Stanley St/Port section. How could anyone safely attempt 80 km/h on such a short, severe "U" bend? Reversing those signs would probably be a safer option. Joy Prewett, Auckland.

Signs such as these are speed limits, not targets. You should always drive to the road, weather and safety conditions, while staying within the speed limit.