Akatea Rd in Korokoro has sections of narrow bends and poor or non-existent footpaths, kerbing and drainage channels. To make it safer for all road users and pedestrians, from May to September 2024 we made a number of improvements requested through consultation with residents.
Hutt City Council and Waka Kotahi shared the cost to:
- Build a section of retaining wall to widen a narrow bend and install a footpath (44-48 Akatea Rd)
- Realign and improve bus stops
- Install or repair footpaths
- Add kerbing and drainage channels
- Upgrade stormwater drainage
- Make crossing improvements at the top of Maungaraki Rd
- Install safety fencing on the outer side of footpaths
- Install a pedestrian refuge island at the top of London Rd
We also used this opportunity to repair a slip on London Rd.
This project is now complete. Thank you everyone for complying with the one-way traffic system to keep all road users and workers safe. We acknowledge it’s been a real inconvenience and we’ve appreciated your patience as we undertake these important safety improvements.
Do you have a question about this project? Get in touch at transportprojectdeliveryteam@huttcity.govt.nz
Frequently Asked Questions
We considered all the options, but as the works area is long, winding and narrow, with many driveways and side streets, stop/go traffic management would not be safe or practical.
It’s mainly a safety issue for workers and the public– switching between a one-way and two-way system creates too much risk of an accident. Not having to establish and remove the traffic management each day also means the job will be finished sooner.
Hours will be 7am - 6pm weekdays, with no machinery operating before 7.30am. Some work may take place 9am-4pm on Saturdays if needed, and no evening work is planned. Traffic management (including one-way system) will be in place 24/7.
Put your rubbish and recycling out as usual. Contractors will move your bins to the opposite side of the road for collection and return them afterwards where necessary.
Emergency services have been notified of the changes and there is a plan in place to ensure that safety won't be compromised.
Contact us at transportprojectdeliveryteam@huttcity.govt.nz or if you have an urgent safety concern or question, contact Sierra Delta Civil Ltd site manager Sam Dews on 027 592 2290.
Our contractors will escort pedestrians and dismounted cyclists safely through the works areas. Cyclists may travel in both directions through the one-way traffic section, but must be on foot for their safety. Outside work hours, there will be areas marked for the use of pedestrians and dismounted cyclists.
Yes, the contractors will ensure access at all times.
Heavy vehicles can drive through the one-way areas, however to get back downhill, the lower part of Korokoro Rd is still restricted to vehicles of less than two tonnes per axle. Heavier vehicles will need to exit via upper Maungaraki Rd and down Dowse Dr.
This section of road and retaining wall will be improved in the future. As much as we would have liked to include it in this work, the cost and funding deadline meant it wasn't possible to do it at this time.
The fencing is for the safety of pedestrians so people can’t fall down the bank(it’s not a crash barrier). It will have a wooden rail and wire mesh.
Several residents first raised concerns with Council about long-standing safety issues on Akatea Rd and were invaluable in helping collect feedback from the community. In November 2023, residents were invited to a meeting at Korokoro Playcentre to give feedback on concept designs for the improvements, which we’re now rolling out.