The new Dunedin Out Patients Block due to open in October.
Next steps for roading around New Dunedin Hospital
A safer, more accessible transport network for the central city and New Dunedin Hospital is a big step closer, with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) approving design funding to improve safety and access on SH1 and SH88 St Andrew Street Dunedin.
About 200 people provided feedback on our proposed changes, and this was carefully considered when we decided what the improvements should be. Visible work on the ground will take time, as the next 12 months will focus on design. However, construction work will begin later in the year on a new signalised pedestrian crossing on SH1 Cumberland Street, near Centre City New World. This will help people move safely to and from the New Dunedin Hospital outpatients building due to open in October.
Consultation
There was general support for making it easier and safer for people walking and driving, especially around the New Dunedin Hospital and central city. Feedback was largely supportive of the proposed Barnes Dance crossing and nearby signalised pedestrian crossings at the SH1 and SH88 intersection. However, there was less support for removing the right turn into SH1 Cumberland Street North and removing some parking required to enable the improvements. People also suggested options such as overpasses or underpasses to further separate people from traffic. While those options are beyond the budget for this project, it highlighted a strong community preference for a people-focused design.More details are in the engagement summary.
Parking
Parking was the biggest area of concern in the consultation feedback. This included removing some short and long-term parking on SH1, SH88 St Andrew Street and Frederick Street, leading to calls for multi-storey parking buildings. Find more information on parking near the New Dunedin Hospital here.
Traffic and intersection changes
Views varied on the proposed traffic and intersection safety changes. Some people preferred simpler layouts and better signal timing, while others were concerned about increased congestion and the loss of familiar turning movements.
Managing the transition
To deliver the safer crossings,better access,and smoother traffic flow that people want around the New Dunedin Hospital and central city, change is inevitable. Most should be manageable but will require people to adjust their travel habits and become familiar with moving through the area in new ways.
We will do our best to maintain parking where possible and as we introduce changes, provide clear signage to help people find their way. We are confident that, with careful planning and delivery, these changes can work well. Our focus is on balancing community concerns while delivering the safety and access improvements people told us they want.
What happens next?
Overall, the consultation feedback sent a clear message: most people support a safer, more connected Dunedin around the New Dunedin Hospital and central city. We can now move ahead with the design work needed to progress the project.
More details are in the project engagement summary.
SH1 Dunedin safety improvements
Good news regarding our ongoing efforts to improve Dunedin’s SH1 one-way system. Funding has now been approved for the design phase of work focused on making key locations along this important route safer and more accessible, while ensuring traffic continues to flow smoothly.
The improvements target the stretch of the SH1 one-way system from the intersection at Pine Hill Road and Great King Street right through to the Andersons Bay Road and SH1 intersection at the Oval. The majority of feedback from our consultation was supportive of our plans, which gives us confidence that we’re heading in the right direction.See the engagement summary here.
This initiative will complement our existing highway safety and access improvements related to the new Dunedin hospital and the central city. By enhancing these key areas, we’re helping to ensure that SH1 remains a reliable and efficient transport route through the heart of Dunedin.
We look forward to sharing more updates with you as the project progresses.
More information
About our work around the New Dunedin Hospital
For more information email SH88StAndrewSt@nzta.govt.nz
Visit our website
Find more information on the New Dunedin Hospital.
About our work on the SH1 Dunedin safety improvements project
For more information email SH1Dunedin@nzta.govt.nz
Visit our website.
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