Roundabout upgrade at Cook and College Streets
We’re building a Dutch-style roundabout at this intersection, which is safer than a traditional roundabout for pedestrians and people on bikes.
Dutch-style roundabouts are designed to slow traffic more than normal roundabouts
You can see in the images that cyclists and pedestrians have priority over general traffic, with a raised zebra crossing and cycle lanes overlapping each arm of the roundabout. They have a much larger diameter (so we can only do them at specific locations in Palmy) and distinct lane markings – creating a safer intersection for all road users.
These roundabouts have a proven track record
Dutch-style roundabouts are new to New Zealand and our city, but they have been successfully implemented in the Netherlands and several other countries, including Australia and parts of North America.
This is important because the existing roundabout was highlighted by Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency as one that needed significant safety improvements under its Road to Zero programme. In the past 10 years, there were 109 reported crashes within the immediate vicinity of the three Cook Street roundabouts with College, Ferguson and Church Streets (2 serious, 37 minor and 70 non-injury). Cyclists were over-represented in these crashes, accounting for 30 per cent of all crashes compared to a mode share rate of only 2 per cent (Census 2018 data).
We’ll run an education campaign following construction
If this is successful, we intend to replicate the design at the roundabout at the Cook and Church Street intersection. We had initially planned to construct both roundabouts at the same time, but we decided a staged approach would be a better way to educate everyone on how they work.
Construction is expected to take place next summer
This work is scheduled to take place in the 2024/25 summer.
As well as installing the new roundabout, work will involve upgrading the pavement and underground services, such as water, wastewater, stormwater, power and internet (which require renewal due to their age).
The construction period will be disruptive not only to the surrounding businesses, but to the traffic flow and how the roundabout operates – we’ll be able to share more detail once we have secured a contractor and know the construction methodology.
Location
Intersection of College and Cook Streets, 4410 View Map
-40.3660246694169, 175.60738798974367
Intersection of College and Cook Streets ,
4410
Intersection of College and Cook Streets ,
4410
Roundabout upgrade at Cook and College Streets