The Project

The project is an integral part of Transit's overall strategy for easing traffic congestion in central Auckland. It comprises new links, providing direct access between the Northern Motorway, Grafton Gully, and the Port of Auckland.

Access to the lower CBD, Auckland Hospital, Mission Bay and Parnell has also been improved.

The project has met the needs of different types of motorists by increasing route efficiency to the port and CBD and removing conflict between local arterial and state highway traffic.

Specifically, the Grafton Gully Project has:

• Extended the motorway to pass under Grafton Rd and into Stanley St, removing the dogleg manoeuvre from Grafton Rd off-ramp to Stanley St.
• Removed the dogleg intersection connecting Stanley St, Beach Rd, Parnell Rise and The Strand, enabling direct access between Stanley St and The Strand.
• Provided a new link from Wellesley Street to Grafton Road.
• Widened Stanley Street and improved the intersections at Alten Road and Beach Road.

On average, 34,000 vehicles per day travel along Stanley Street (SH16). (2003 statistic)

Pedestrians and Cyclists

As well as benefits for motorists, there is improved cycle and pedestrian access through and around Grafton Gully to Auckland Hospital, Parnell, The University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology as well as the Auckland Domain and the CBD.

Grafton Gully is also part of the popular Coast to Coast walkway route, used by many national and international walkers who annually experience the Auckland isthmus by foot.

Previously a difficult area for pedestrians and cyclists to negotiate, Grafton Gully has been transformed into a pedestrian and cyclist friendly area.

Crossing Stanley Street has been made easier by the installation of traffic lights, some with a pedestrian phase. Other improvements include a signalised intersection at Alten Road /Stanley Street and the new Tranz Rail bridge.

Crossing the gully has been made safer by the separation of local and motorway traffic. Cyclists and pedestrians no longer have to compete with heavy motorway traffic traveling to and from the Port.

Built as part of the project, the Grafton Road Bridge enables pedestrians to safely cross the gully on an extra wide footpath while traffic exits the motorway below the bridge.

During planning stages and throughout the project, Transit ensured the needs of pedestrians and cyclists would be met by working closely with stakeholder groups such as Walkable Communities and Auckland-based Cobley Walking Group.

Achievement

The achievements of the Grafton Gully Project in the areas of archeology, environmental management, design, traffic management, community relations and project delivery have set a benchmark for projects of its type.

The project is the first of its scale to be constructed in an inner city environment in recent times and has served as a model for future motorway projects.

Transit, through Freeflow developed solid relationships with key stakeholders including the Auckland Regional Council, iwi and neighbours to minimise the negative effects of construction and maximise the opportunity for urban development.

Project Staging

Transit divided the project into three stages. The first two stages which are complete and were designed to allow Stage 3 to be constructed at some time in the future.

Stage 1

Involved upgrading the existing ramps in the upper gully and building a new connection to Wellesley Street, with through traffic being directed below the western end of Grafton Road.

Stage 2

Involved upgrading Stanley Street with traffic signals at Alten Road and a free left turn into Beach Road which has been extended to pass below the railway and link back into The Strand, removing the dogleg intersection.

The total cost of these first two stages was $68 million.

Stage 3

Transit will also seek a designation for Stage 3. This will be a sunken highway parallel to Stanley Street which will provide a more direct link to The Strand. This will be built later when there is sufficient traffic to justify its construction.