Minor safety and access improvements

Project summary

What we're doing

We’re completing our strategic road network but we also need to focus on making sure the rest of our transport network functions safely and efficiently. We need to manage our road network to cope with large amounts of traffic at peak times and create safer places for people to live and engage with each other, by funding, providing and promoting quality alternatives to car travel, like city cycle networks and bus routes. This is our programme of safety and access improvements.

For examples of some completed improvements and information on how they work, have a look at below.

This includes safer speed areas, minor works, integrated transport initiatives and public transport infrastructure.

Why we're doing it

Hamilton is New Zealand’s fourth largest urban area with around 141,000 residents, and is expected to grow to 207,000 residents by 2036. We need to plan and programme for this growth now.

Access Hamilton

Access Hamilton sets out the basis for Hamilton's transport planning and investment over the next 30 years. The Access Hamilton strategy and programme is currently being taken through a refresh in order to ensure it is aligned with regional and national policy.

Current and proposed improvements

Location	Proposed start date	Proposed works
Forest Lake Road	Mid 2024	Raised safety platform View plan
Wairere/Bisley intersection	Mid 2024	Raised safety platform View plan
Fow Street	Mid 2024	Shared path View plan
Silverdale Road (outside school)	Mid 2024	Raised safety platform View plan
Hillcrest Road	Mid 2024	Raised zebra crossing View plan
Ellicott Road (outside Fraser High)	Mid 2024	Raised signalised crossing View plan
Collins Road (outside Melville High)	Mid 2024	Raised signalised crossing View plan
Hukanui/Wairere intersection	Early 2024	Proposed intersection improvements View plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pedestrian refuge island?

Pedestrian refuge islands provide pedestrians with a space to stop when crossing a road. They make it easier for pedestrians to find a break in traffic to cross, and they can also slow drivers down while keeping traffic moving.

They are often planted with small shrubs.

Sometimes they have a reflective or illuminated beacon.

What is are raised pedestrian platforms?

Raised platforms provide crossing points for pedestrians as well as slowing down traffic with the raised level and textured surface. They often have yellow tactile surfacing to improve accessibility for vision-impaired people.

Raised platforms can be used in conjunction with kerb extensions to slow traffic further.

What about safer speed areas?

We use different ways to let drivers know they are entering a safer speed area, and the speed limit has dropped to 40km. Coloured and raised pedestrian platforms and pedestrian refuge islands are often installed in conjunction with speed limit signs and reminder signs.

What are accessible bus kerbs?

One of the improvements we are making to bus stops around the city is putting in accessible kerbs. These kerbs make it much easier for people using mobility aids such as wheelchairs to get on and off the kneeling buses.