Is this what Long Bay Residents want?!
We need your support!
On Wednesday 16 August, Auckland Transport (AT) ran an information evening for Okura residents showing designs of the temporary (18-24 months) closure at 189 Vaughans Road and answering questions. The road closure will be timed to coincide with the completion of the Long Bay / Te Oneroa Way works in approximately 3 weeks time – the end of August/start of September. Considerations are focussed on the standards / safety concerns given the state, width and situation of Vaughans Road and also safety issues of the Okura River Road intersection. A substantial increase in traffic numbers is projected by AT if the road were to be opened.
Vaughans Road Closure / severance
The closure consists of works to provide the temporary closure by:
– wooden bollards: fixed
– steel bollards: fixed and retractable – to allow access if/when required e.g. emergency purposes
– turning bays on either side – temporary materials
Please see the attached photos of the designs, and projections provided by AT at the meeting.
Also please find attached the invitation letter provided to Okura residents before the meeting by AT.
Short term commitments stated by AT
AT also committed to minor visibility improvements at the Okura River Road / Vaughans Road intersection.
AT stated the closure is anticipated to be 18-24 months and committed to taking a case for $1.5 – $2 million funding for “localised widening” of Vaughans Road to their investment committee.
Note that the interpretation of “localised widening” essentially was described as additional road seal at the places where the road is considered too narrow to pass. The LBRA interpretation of this is basically passing bays at a few points along the road.
Historic background
– A road connection between the Long Bay Structure Plan (LBSP) area and Vaughans Rd, and the flow of traffic between the two, is a fundamental part of the local transport network and has been flagged and included in the relevant planning documents for many years.
– Detailed upgrade plans from approx 2015 have disappeared from the current AT website seem to have been forgotten about, but are on the archived website.
What does this mean for Long Bay residents?
– no access to Vaughans Road past number 189 from the Long Bay / Te Oneroa Way side, unless you’re walking, biking or on a horse!
– no near-term commitment to a major upgrade of Vaughans Road, and the deadline for funding in the Regional Land Transport Plan 2024 – 2027 is near due, so the major upgrade won’t be committed to for that timeframe.
– substantial funds mooted to be spent on further temporary “band-aid” measures
– increased “boy racer” traffic due to the access to Piripiri Point via Te Oneroa Way, which is impacted by various nefarious activities
– the documented four accesses to Long Bay are not provided for, and especially problematic given the current Glenvar Road situation plus the closure of Vaughans Road
– one less access should any Resilience Plan need to be enacted in the closure timeframe
Moreover, the Long Bay residents have not been consulted for feedback! We’re trying to change that!
What can you do:
– Email your feedback to ATEngagement@at.govt.nz with “Vaughans Road” in the subject line, providing your feedback on the situation described above, and cc longbayra@gmail.com.
– Attend the upcoming AT Information/Q&A session for Long Bay residents – time, date and location will be advised soon!
– Advocate by providing your views to us, so we can take those views forward, email longbayra@gmail.com.
– Support by becoming a formal member of the Long Bay Residents’ Association http://bit.ly/lbramember, or by joining the Long Bay Community Facebook Group.
