Improve safety

• Between 2015 and 2024, 39 crashes were recorded at this intersection, including 3 serious and 13 minor injuries.
• 17 crashes involved vehicles travelling straight-through from Maeroa Road.
• Residents report many unrecorded crashes and near misses.
• Traffic growth may increase the crash risk.

Support right-turn movements from Maeroa Road west

• Demand for right-turn movements towards the central city is increasing.
• A future bus route along Maeroa Road west may be needed.

Improve pedestrian and cyclist access

• Crossing Ulster Street is difficult for those heading to bus stops or the river.
• Crossing Maeroa Road can be challenging for pedestrians heading along Ulster Street.

Minimise impacts on Maeroa Road east and Cardrona Road residents

• Signals could significantly increase traffic on this quiet residential street.
• After consulting residents, Council decided a partial road closure provides the best balance between access and preserving a pleasant living environment.

Maintain smooth traffic flow on Ulster Street

• Partially closing Maeroa Road east allows more signal time for Ulster Street traffic.
• New signals will be coordinated with Forest Lake Road/Victoria Street signals.

• Signalise the Ulster Street/Maeroa Road intersection.
• Pedestrian signal phases for the northern and western legs of the intersection.
• Close the entrance to Maeroa Road east from Ulster Street (left-turn out remains).
• Relocate some bus stops for more efficient spacing (around 400m) and improved pedestrian access.

The current estimated construction cost for the project is $1.3 million, with 51% funded by NZTA Waka Kotahi. This estimate is based on our preliminary design and will be refined as we complete consultation and move into detailed design.

Three signalised intersection options were investigated with residents, each with different access levels between Ulster Street and Maeroa Road east.

We also investigated the idea of a roundabout, but it would require significantly more space than traffic signals. The image below gives a general idea of the likely footprint by overlaying a similar roundabout from the Ulster Street/Sunshine Avenue intersection. While the alignment isn’t exact, it helps illustrate how much land would likely be needed, including several properties and some house demolitions, making it a much more costly, time-consuming, and disruptive option.

A roundabout here would also be harder to cross on foot or by bike, and may require a signalised pedestrian crossing, which would further increase costs and interrupt traffic flows. In contrast, a signalised intersection allows pedestrian phases to be coordinated with traffic phases, helping minimise disruption.

With a roundabout, we'd also lose the ability to coordinate the traffic signals with the Ulster Street/Forest Lake Road intersection.

Sunshine Avenue/Te Rapa Road roundabout footprint overlaid on the Ulster Street/Maeroa Road intersection