Improving the Ulster Street/Abbotsford Street intersection

Project summary

The intersection of Ulster Street and Abbotsford Street requires improvements to make it safer for people driving, walking, and cycling. A key aim is to reduce crashes and make crossing these roads safer for school children and crowds visiting FMG Stadium.

What we're doing

We’re engaging with nearby residents and businesses to check if we’ve overlooked any issues, or if there are refinements that could improve the design.

Why we're doing it

We’ve had regular requests from residents, schools, and business owners in the area to make improvements.

The current intersection has a poor safety record. Between 2015 and 2024, there have been 28 crashes recorded by Police, including 13 injury crashes. Near-misses are also regularly observed.

It’s difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to cross these roads. There are four lanes of traffic to cross over Ulster Street, making it difficult for people to find safe gaps in traffic. The nearest refuge islands are 85m from the intersection, requiring a significant detour, and are too small to safely accommodate some prams and mobility scooters.

This project will

Make it easier for buses, drivers and people on bikes to navigate the intersection.
Helps school children cross safely.
Help reduce crashes and near misses with vehicles turning right into or out of Ulster Street or going straight across.

Project features

The following changes have been developed:

A signalised at-grade pedestrian crossing in two stages over Ulster Street
A raised central island on Ulster Street. This will prevent:
- vehicles travelling straight between the eastern and western legs of Abbotsford Street.
- vehicles making right turns into and out of Abbotsford Street. Drivers will be able to use Mill Street, Edgecumbe Road, and Richmond Street to access Ulster Street.
Narrowing the entrances to Abbotsford Street.
A raised pedestrian and cyclist crossing over Abbotsford Street west (FMG Stadium side), engineered for a smooth driving experience at 40km/h.
The existing on-road cycle lane will be changed to a shared path on the western side of Ulster Street (closer to FMG Stadium) to make room for the central island. The shared path will run for about 300m towards Te Rapa.
Relocating some bus stops for better spacing and passenger access.

View the full proposed plan here

Frequently asked questions

How does the preferred design address the problem?

Most crashes and near misses at this intersection are associated with vehicles turning right into or out of Ulster Street or going straight across. The central raised island prevents these movements.

The signalised pedestrian crossing over Ulster Street provides the safest crossing option for this road environment.

The raised island on Ulster Street, narrowing side road entrances, and the raised crossing on Abbotsford Street west make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the side roads. This is particularly important because currently some cyclists have to come off the road because of a lack of shoulder space as they have minimal delay passing through the intersection.

What other options were considered?

Moving or upgrading the central refuge islands, including a zebra crossing, was considered but discounted on safety grounds. Pedestrians would still need to judge safe gaps in traffic. A zebra crossing in this environment relies on all drivers stopping for a pedestrian, which can be unsafe on a busy multi-lane road.

A full signalised intersection is not suitable, as it would encourage more traffic onto the side roads and slow Ulster Street traffic more than the preferred signalised pedestrian crossing. The preferred design would only impact drivers occasionally, when people want to cross. Full signalisation would likely result in stopping traffic on Ulster Street once every few minutes.

How will I access Ulster Street now?

Drivers will be able to use Mill Street, Edgecumbe Road, and Richmond Street to access Ulster Street.

When will construction start?

We expect to start construction on this project in early 2027, subject to engagement with residents and finalising the design.

How much will the project cost?

The approved budget for this project is $1.5 million. This project is funded by Hamilton City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency as part of the minor transport improvements programme, to improve the safety and accessibility of highlighted transport areas across the city.