Access Kenepuru - improving Kenepuru corridor and surrounding streets

Improving Kenepuru corridor and surrounding streets

Porirua City is growing, and we’re doing a lot of work to manage the increased traffic following the opening of Transmission Gully, other growth in the area and existing trip generators like Kenepuru Hospital and commercial businesses. Access Kenepuru encompasses a suite of improvements we would like to implement over the next few years. On this page you can find what's planned, what’s underway and what’s already been completed. View a overview map of Access Kenepuru projects.

• Latest updates
• Current projects:
  • Raiha St / Kenepuru Drive roundabout improvements
• Upcoming projects
  • Te Ara Tawa and Ferry Place paths plus Lyttelton Ave / Walton Leigh Ave intersection upgrade
  • Kenepuru Drive intersections with Lyttelton Ave, Lower Main Drive and Titahi Bay Road
  • Raiha Street / Prosser Street corridor study
• Completed improvements projects
• Want to know more

18 April 2024 - Raiha St / Kenepuru Drive intersection upgrade

Over the past couple of weeks, work has progressed well on the Kenepuru Hospital corner of Raiha St and Kenepuru Drive. We’ve constructed all the kerb and channel, concreted the shared path in this section, and removed the streetlight poles on this corner. We are preparing the berm for topsoil and grassing, and we’re adjusting the temporary line markings on Raiha St back to the previous alignment. Once the new streetlight poles arrive, we’ll be installing and reconnecting these in early May.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be working on the next section on the business side of Kenepuru Drive. Work will include locating underground services, installing drainage, and starting construction of the new kerb and channel and shared path.

Please note: During these works, pedestrian on Kenepuru Drive will need to use the crossing on Raiha St. To make sure the crossing point is safe we will be providing a temporary pedestrian refuge on Raiha St.

Previous updates

Raiha Street / Kenepuru Drive roundabout

Work started in early March 2024 to replace the temporary roundabout at the Raiha Street / Kenepuru Drive intersection with permanent features.

The temporary roundabout took the place of a T-junction and was installed in December 2020 as a trial, ahead of the completion of Transmission Gully and its connection to Kenepuru Drive.

At the time there was a high level of uncertainty about the impacts from Transmission Gully and we wanted to see if a roundabout was the right way to go with a view to making this a permanent feature if we could realise the expected safety and efficiency benefits.

Benefits of the roundabout

Since the roundabout has been in place, we are seeing fewer crashes and better traffic flows. Prior to the roundabout we had 19 crashes (2015-2020) (12 non-injury and 7 minor crashes). Since installation of the roundabout in late 2020 our data shows 4 non-injury crashes (up to May 2023).

Buses and trucks can now make turns smoothly, vehicles speeds have slowed and there is better access for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the intersection more easily and safely.

We have reviewed and monitored the temporary roundabout and have taken in the lessons and made further improvements into the permanent design.

Features of the new roundabout

• Tactile surfaces at crossing points to help those who are visually impaired.
• 75mm high raised table to slow traffic, make it safer for pedestrians and to allow heavy vehicle to easily cross.
• Reduced central island with mountable apron to improve large vehicle manoeuvring.
• Reduced raised median islands to improve vehicle movements.
• Green surfacing to show cycle areas and exit/entry points.
• Designated cycle facility on Kenepuru Drive with raised separators.
• Shared path on the Raiha St side of Kenepuru Drive extending up Raiha St.
• Improved lighting.

Check out the roundabout design for more information.

Construction information

Work started in early March 2024 and is planned for completion by the end of winter 2024.

We are aware this is a very busy intersection. To minimise disruption as much as possible this work will be undertaken during the day and at night, with the more disruptive work scheduled to happen overnight.

What to expect

Daytime work - 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.

• This work will include constructing the shared path, street lighting and landscaping.
• Traffic management measures in place will include lane closures during off-peak hours and pedestrian diversions.
  • 7am-9am work will take place off the road, on the berms behind the kerb lines, to minimise disruption.
  • 9am-3pm any work that impacts/closes traffic lanes will happen during these hours which are off-peak. There may be some minor adjustments to these hours once we see the impact of this work on traffic.
  • 3pm-6pm work will take place off the road, on the berms behind the kerb lines, to minimise disruption.

Night time work - 7pm to 6am Sunday to Thursday.

• This work will include roundabout construction and work on the road surface.
• Stop/go, speed restrictions and other traffic management measures will be in place.
• Access through the roundabout will be maintained.

Please use alternative routes where possible.

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This project is currently under review. When it goes ahead, and subject to the funding available, we’d like to provide an improved, flat, safe and easy to use direct link for pedestrians and cyclists from Kenepuru Drive to the city centre and to public transport via Lyttelton Avenue. We’d also like to strengthen the east/west connection across Lyttelton Avenue and Walton Leigh Avenue so people can easily get from the city centre to Te Ara Tawa and to public transport options such as the train station and buses.

At the same time as we are looking to widen footpaths, we're also looking at measures to slow traffic down and encourage large heavy vehicles to use alternative routes as well as modifying Walton Leigh roundabout; all to increase pedestrian and cycling safety.

Why are we doing this?

Currently there is a lack of easy, safe, pedestrian and cyclist access between Kenepuru Landing and the city centre. The current Lyttelton Avenue footpath is narrow and interrupted by multiple laybys.

The best route to enter Te Manawa, the heart of the city centre, is from Lower Main Drive, across Kenepuru Drive and along Lyttelton Avenue to Ferry Place. The roundabout at the Lyttelton Avenue / Walton Leigh Avenue intersection currently does not make this easy for pedestrians with no direct surface crossing points.

An option for how these shared paths could look and how the intersection could be improved was available at public drop-in sessions in July 2021. Since then, the concepts continue to be refined.

Project timeframe

This project is being reviewed as Council looks to manage rates rises in the next LTP period, 2024-34. The construction phase of this project is likely to be deferred until at least 2027/28.

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Improvements at all three intersections will make it easier and safer for pedestrians, and cyclists to get to and from the city centre and will keep traffic moving safely and efficiently. This is going to be especially important over the coming years as growth is expected to continue.

Why are we proposing these changes?

These intersections and side roads are already very busy and significant growth in the area is seeing more people walking and cycling which in turn puts increasing demand on existing crossing points. This growth, as well as changes in traffic patterns and volumes along Kenepuru Drive, including the impact of Transmission Gully, is causing further delays for motorists and safety concerns for all road users wishing to cross Kenepuru Drive. This is predicted to get worse as growth continues.

Development of Kenepuru Landing and Summerset on the Landing means the Lower Main Drive / Kenepuru Drive intersection needs upgrading to provide safe access for residents, now and in the future. These improvements will also give residents an alternative access to Bluff Road and Hospital Drive and will enable public transport to service Kenepuru Landing and Summerset on the Landing.

Any work to improve the Kenepuru Drive intersections at Lower Main Drive and Lyttelton Ave will impact on the Titahi Bay Road roundabout and vice versa hence why they are being investigated collectively.

Project timeframe

We are currently reviewing concepts for Lower Main Drive and Lyttelton Ave intersections, looking at improvement options for Titahi Bay Road roundabout and assessing how they would all work together.

This project is being reviewed as Council looks to manage rates rises in the next (LTP period, 2024-34 which could result in the next phases of this project being deferred until 2025/26 and 2026/27.

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The Raiha Street to Prosser Street corridor is a busy part of the network with over 11,000 vehicle movements daily.

This corridor study has completed the early scoping stages to identify key issues and opportunities to improve safety and accessibility in this area and is now beginning to consider conceptual options for improvement.

Project timeframe

This project is being reviewed as Council looks to manage rates rises in the next LTP period, 2024-34 which could result in the design stage being deferred until 2028/29.

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If you have any questions, please email us.

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