Improving Porirua’s roads & footpaths

Find out more about this project to improve traffic flows, and pedestrian and cycle safety, along Kenepuru Drive and surrounding streets, plus read the latest updates on our dedicated Kenepuru Corridor webpage

May 2024

We’re introducing a range of cost effective, road safety improvements on some of our high risk intersections to minimise the risk of death and serious injury.

These intersections have been identified by analysis of crash records, local knowledge and resident feedback.

The intention is to trial some temporary interventions such as build-outs to narrow down sections of road to slow traffic, new road markings, new improved signage, and reconfigured crossing points with tactiles for vision impaired pedestrians.

The temporary changes will be monitored and made permanent if successful and modified or removed if not.

First intersections for treatment

The first, highest priority intersection to receive these treatments has been Omapere St / Postgate Drive, Whitby.

Flexible safe hit posts have been installed around the corners of Omapere Street and Postgate Drive intersection. These are intended to slow vehicles down by delineating a narrower lane. There has also been an extra give way sign installed, and advisory speed sign on the southbound approach on Postgate Drive and some extra road marking. These changes will be monitored and adjusted if necessary.

The next intersections for treatment are:

• Okowai Road / Frances Brown Ave, Aotea
• Champion St / Cornwall Cres, Cannons Creek

Others planned include:

• John Seddon Dr / Heriot Dr, Elsdon
• Warspite Ave / Corinna St, Waitangirua

October 2024

We’ve completed a new shared pathway along Papakōwhai Road to improve pedestrian and cycle connections and safety. Work began in January 2024 and was completed in October 2024.

May 2024

We have completed stage 2 of this project. This stage has involved improving road crossing points and school safety at the following locations:

1. Site 1 - Omapere Street near Tairangi School
2. Site 2 - Warspite Ave near Tairangi Kindergarten
3. Site 16 - Warspite Ave near Natone Park School
4. Site 19 - Warspite Ave near Desert Gold Street.

Find out more about this project and others on our road safety page

Pukerua Bay shared pathway improvements complete

Work to continue improving the shared pathway intersection connections through Pukerua Bay finished in early 2023.

This work was Stage Two of the project.

Work completed

• Improvements to the intersections of Pukerua Beach Road and SH59, and Haunui Road and Pukerua Beach Road, to make them safer for pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles. This work included narrowing both intersections by building out the kerbs, new road markings, dropped kerbs and improved pathway connections to improve access for pathway users.
• Improvements to the intersection of Wairaka Road and SH59 to make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles. This work included narrowing the entrance to Wairaka Road by building out the kerbs, new road markings, dropped kerbs and improved pathway connections to improve access for pathway users.

Porirua City Council managed the project, which was 100 percent funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency through its programme of highway cycle improvements.

Stage One improvements completed

Stage one of this project was completed in July 2021.

It included the following improvements:

• Widening the zig zag pathway between Haunui Road and SH1 to make it easier for cyclists, particularly on the bends. This work included tree removal, re-asphalting the pathway and introducing holdrail in places.
• Improved pathway directional signage from the lookout at the northern end of Pukerua Bay to Porirua Railway Station.
• Pedestrian improvements through the northern lookout site.

*NB: In response to resident’s requests, extensive conversations were had with Waka Kotahi about installing a barrier or similar at the bottom of the zig-zag path to stop an errant rider from landing on SH59, however the barrier needed to be able to be compliant for vehicle drivers and not just provide protection for cyclists which meant that what was suitable for protecting cyclists was not safe or acceptable for the road environment and passing traffic. We have therefore opted to remove a couple of trees at the bottom of the zig-zag and widen the path to improve sightlines between path users at this pinch point.

August 2023

We’ve installed staggered barriers on a number of the city's walkways in a bid to stop them being used unsafely, and illegally, as shortcuts by motorbike riders.

This work follows a study of our road to road walkways to identify where staggered barriers are most needed.

These barriers are intended to deter motorbikes or at least make these routes less desirable, while continuing to allow access for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and mobility scooter users. Cyclists will be able to walk a standard bike through these connections.

The highest priority locations have been brought to our attention by residents as well as other agencies such as the Police and Metlink.

We will continue to assess other walkways around the city and collate ongoing feedback to determine where barriers are required.

Some of the walkways the staggered barriers have so far been recently installed on include between:

• 11 Leicester Street and 209 Bedford Street
• 50 Leicester street and 89 Bedford Street
• 21 Shackle Lane and 2 Shearwater Lane.
• 405 Warspite to Beauzami Cres
• 323A Warspite to Westmeath st
• 171 Warspite to Kokiri Cres
• Thompson Gully to Mungavin (Holy family School)
• Thompson Gully to Thompson Gr
• Thompson Gully to Cornwall Cres
• 46 Kotuku St to Waiho Tce
• 16 Te Pene Ave to Matatiro St.