The next stage of improvements to Te Ngae Rd is likely to include two different kinds of cycleway, new signalled intersections and four lanes from Iles Rd to Basley Rd.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency principal Transport planner Simon Barnett delivered an update on the next stage of Eastern Corridor project to a Bay of Plenty Regional Council public Transport committee meeting last week.
Barnett sought the in-principle support of the regional council to work in collaboration on the project.
On July 1 the Government announced $55m for roading and land development in the area as part of its Crown Infrastructure Partners shovel-ready projects scheme.
Of that, it was expected $35m would be allocated to the State Highway 30 Te Ngae Rd corridor, while $5m would go toward local road improvements and the remaining $15m for bulk stormwater improvements, according to Rotorua Lakes Council documents.
Barnett said stage two would focus on the strip of Te Ngae Rd between Iles Rd and the airport.
Stage one was still under construction and included the section of Te Ngae Rd from Sala St to Iles Rd. It would cost $17m and was expected to be completed in late 2021.
Barnett's presentation stated aims for stage two - which was pre-design level - were to support housing growth as well as improving connections between State Highway 30 Te Ngae Rd and local roads.
It was also aimed at improving the predictability of Transport times and increased safety for all Transport types.
Part of what was proposed would see new 3m-wide shared footpaths, his presentation showed.
Barnett said there was also an opportunity to install a separate on-road cycleway and signalised pedestrian crossings.
The proposal also included the destruction of the Te Ngae Rd / Owhata Rd roundabout to be replaced by a signalised intersection.
Barnett said designating some of those lanes as either public Transport or freight lanes would also be a consideration.
"I'm looking to have the project in the first phase approved to go towards the design phase and thereon the construction", he said.
Committee chairman, regional councillor Andrew von Dadelszen asked Barnett why there were two kinds of cycleways, saying "it just seems an overkill".
Barnett said some cyclists would stay on the road regardless and it was to "allow them a safe buffer" from traffic.
"I'm more than happy to encourage those that have the confidence to do that and to cycle into work."
Rotorua Lakes Council representative and Lakes Community Board chairman Phill Thomass asked why in later phases the proposal would see the shared path "zig-zagging" back and forth across the road.
Barnett said he couldn't go into detailed answers, but it was, "in a nutshell ... a constraint on space".
Proposed changes to the Eastern Corridor Te Ngae Rd. Screenshot / NZTA
"Where they've decided to cross them over is at the mid-block crossings, so you don't have to wait to get to an intersection and backtrack on yourself.
"I know there's a lot of thought behind this, I recognise the comment and I'll make sure that's interrogated again before we close this out."
He said the location of nearby schools was also a factor.
A July Connect Rotorua update stated Waka Kotahi NZTA was working with councils, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, iwi and developers on Eastern Corridor stage two "to ensure we get this right".
"We'll be coming back to the community to share more information about this project soon."
• All existing slip lanes on side streets removed • Three metre-wide shared path, crossing between Basley and Brent Rds near Puketawhero Park • New on-road cycle lane • Traffic calming on local roads • Location of bus stops and pedestrian crossings to be determined
