CMJ - Urban Design

Urban Design has been a significant part of the project since investigations into improvements for CMJ began. The urban design team has looked at ways of enhancing the motorway environment including taking into consideration:

• The relationship between land uses.
• Patterns of traffic and pedestrian movement.
• Surrounding development - residential and commercial.
• Landscaping, including trees.
• Public artwork.
• The overall aesthetics of an area.

Some of the urban design aspects of the project that have been analysed include creating a motorway corridor which:

• Makes a positive contribution to urban Auckland.
• Integrates with, and expresses, the city's unique fabric.
• Recognises the localised 'sense of place'.
• Creates a lasting legacy that captures the pride of the city.

One of the key goals of the CMJ project is to provide a benchmark for good urban design and engineering solutions within the Auckland motorway context.

The following elements of the Central Motorway Junction, and its surrounds, are being considered as part of the urban design:

• Bridges, piers, retaining walls and median barriers.
• Cuttings and embankments.
• Signage and lighting.
• Landscaping and planting.
• Available views and references provided by buildings and other features.

Drawings and sketches of urban design concepts.

Looking east from Newton Rd Bridge. Showing on the left the new Northwestern (SH16) to Northern Motorway (SH1) link. Diverging from it is the Northwestern (SH16) to Nelson Street off-ramp. An example of patterns to be used on some of the walls is shown on the new wall to the left, also shown is an indication of the vegetation to be planted in this area on completion of the construction works.