Eastern Busway: Pakūranga Road and Rā Hihi intersection update
Since the Rā Hihi flyover opened in October 2025, there have been concerns raised about the performance of the intersection with Pakūranga Road. This includes "higher-than-expected demand and
unchanged driver behaviour resulted in ongoing congestion, particularly during the afternoon peak along Pakūranga Road towards Howick."
The Eastern Busway Alliance have been working on some options to address the issues and have identified two preferred options for feedback (see images).
The key features of Option 4 and Option 4a include:
🚧3 lanes eastbound starting from Pakūranga Road / Tī Rākau Drive intersection.
🚧 3 lanes through Rā Hihi flyover signalised intersection.
🚧 2 lanes westbound
🚧 Bidirectional cycleway on the south side.
Option 4a is the preferred option for AT traffic operations and Auckland Transport Operations Center (ATOC). According to the report Engagement was undertaken with key project stakeholders including St Kentigern’s College, Bike Auckland, Sedar Properties, Barfoot and Thompson in late March to allow the project team to gather information on how the wider community, including visitors
and students, use the intersection and cycleway." But "Given the limited scope to influence and the aim to deliver improvements to the intersection quickly, public engagement was not considered appropriate."
The Howick Local Board will formally discuss, debate and vote on our feedback this Thursday 23 April. This is an open public meeting, starting at 12noon (although this item is further down the agenda).
After the Eastern Busway Alliance receives the Local Board’s formal response to the feedback questions, the team will analyse the feedback and respond.
The cost for intersection modifications will be funded by Auckland Transport. Part of decision making over the final intersection layout will include an understanding of the cost (along with technical approvals). This work is still ongoing and unconfirmed at this time.
You can see the presentation along with the report for our meeting this week.
https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/Meeting/12498/89068?type=1&docId=28564
I have my own views, but I am keeping an open mind ahead of the meeting. I am concerned about the change to the cycleway and the risk that these changes may not solve the wider issue of congestion along this busy route (and surrounding area).
I have not seen the previous options (presumably 1-3) and only saw these options on 24 March in a confidential memo. We received a confidential presentation on 2 April (similar to the one attached to the agenda this week).