Concept & scheme design

The Tikipunga Single Stage Business Case actions the identified fifth route in the hub and spoke main corridor model within the Whangārei Walking and Cycling Strategy (2018) . The focus of the business case is the city links programme, connecting the Tikipunga town centre to Whangārei City Centre, based primarily upon the residential growth occurring in the area. Following community input, further supporting programme options and recommendations showed a need for local links (between amenities in Tikipunga and Otangarei) and recreational links (for leisure and sports).

For this project we sub-contracted to TM Consultants to develop a concept, scheme, and detailed design for the signalised intersection at the Waimakariri Junction commercial development. We also designed much of the internal road layout of the development. The new intersection design incorporated the following objectives:
safety, efficiency, to provide access for people in vehicles, and people walking and cycling.

ViaStrada supported Far North District Council with a successful application for funding through Climate Emergency Response Funding Transport Choices in late 2022, (ViaStrada assisted earlier in the case for funding for FNDC, see here).

New Plymouth District Council were successful in securing one of the highest Transport Choices funding allocations in the country to fast‐track separated cycling facilities and improve pedestrian access and public transport provision along key corridors. ViaStrada was engaged by NPDC to lead a team of experts in planning and designing 14 km of key road corridors in New Plymouth.

As part of the Whangārei Citywide Walking and Cycling Programme Business Case, ViaStrada used a geospatial data collection tool to identify existing, upgraded, and new cycle parking locations throughout the city. The lack of bike parking was identified as one of three main problems in the business case.

The Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust (DTTT) project is to provide a 15 km safe and user-friendly cycle and walking trail between Dunedin and Mosgiel. It includes two redundant rail tunnels at Chain Hills and Caversham built in the 1870s.

Dunedin City Council engaged ViaStrada to develop concept plans for the layout of a learn-to-ride space that can be used to improve road safety and road awareness for inexperienced riders in Dunedin. The cycle track is designed to provide a facility where cycle trainers, school groups, and the general community can introduce new riders to a simulated road environment. It allows riders to gain experience and improve their road safety when they cycle on the road.

In order to optimise the function and safety of the route by mode and time of day, ViaStrada and Aurecon conducted site audits at eight intersections; researched the planning and engineering context; identified capacity constraints; analysed crash data and safety issues, considered modal requirements; identified engineering and operational improvements with costings.

ViaStrada has been engaged by Auckland Transport to provide concept designs to address outstanding issues from the Puhinui Road Post Construction Safety Audit. The issues included potential risk for head-on collisions, risk of large trucks tracking through cycle lanes when undertaking turn, and insufficient sight lines between people walking and cycling. Proposed concept designs address these issues and a rough order cost for each option is given.

Meeanee Road and the northern leg of Guppy Road are designated arterials, with the southern leg of Guppy being a secondary collector. The existing signalised intersection has been in place since at least 2009 while major land use and transportation developments such as the new dual roundabout SH50 expressway interchange have been implemented in the area. Both of the two west approach lanes are shared through and turn lanes, which can create capacity and safety issues (including sight lines to oncoming traffic).