Improving links between Pāpāmoa and the Mount

Intersection changes around Maranui Street, Girven Road and Oceanbeach Road are improving travel between Pāpāmoa and the Mount and increasing safety for pedestrians.

Why is change necessary?

Maranui Street, Girven Road and Oceanbeach Road are key routes for the community to get to and from school, work, local parks, shops, the beach, and other nearby destinations.

Over the past few years, you’ve let us know that getting around safely and easily between Pāpāmoa and the Mount can be challenging, especially at peak times. Increasing growth in the Arataki area has put a strain on the current roading infrastructure, and Oceanbeach Road is becoming a common link for pedestrians and cyclists to access the new beach pathways located along Pāpāmoa Beach Road and Marine Parade.

A safety review supported the need to improve the Oceanbeach Road and Girven Road intersection to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, while assisting peak hour traffic flow.

The redesigned intersection at Oceanbeach Road and Girven Road, new roundabout at Girven Road and Maranui Street intersection, shared pathways, and improved pedestrian crossing options will increase safety for everyone who travels through the area, no matter what mode of transport they choose.

These improvements are part of a wider plan to make Pāpāmoa, Arataki and the Mount safer for people to move about.

Girven Road safety improvements

We’ve constructed a single-lane central roundabout at the Girven–Maranui intersection and redesigned Oceanbeach Road for a seamless transition to Girven Road. This ensures a smoother journey for drivers between these three streets by removing the number of stopping points along the main route.

New shared pathway links and four pedestrian crossings are now in place to define safe pedestrian crossing points. Three of these crossings have central islands that divide the crossing into two movements and minimise driver disruption.

Girven Road safety improvements

Coming next - Omanu Way safety improvements

Following the intersection changes on Girven Road, which have improved traffic flow on the main route between Pāpāmoa and the Mount, a redesign of Omanu Way is on the way. This will see the introduction of one-way traffic on Omanu Way from Maranui Street towards the beach and local shops, as well as the construction of three new pedestrian crossings. These changes are aimed at lowering traffic and speed while improving safety for beach goers and residents in this area.

Since we introduced this project in February 2024, new government direction means we will no longer be using raised pedestrian crossings in some areas. The two new pedestrian crossings on Maranui Street and the additional crossing on Oceanbeach Road will all be level crossings.

The Omanu Way safety improvements are planned to begin in November 2024. This will come with temporary speed reductions and stop/go traffic management as and when needed.

Omanu Way safety improvements

Other work in your area – Girven Road signalised crossing

Construction of the new signalised shared crossing over Girven Road is now complete. This crossing was planned as part of the ‘More ways to Move on Grenada Street’ project and has since been delivered as part of the wider safety improvements on Girven Road.

Girven Road signalised crossing

With the Arataki bus hub upgrade on Farm Street underway, a safe connection to Arataki Park is fundamental to people travelling between both sides of Girven Road on foot or by bike. The new lights will stop traffic for approximately 20 seconds at a time.

FAQs

How are we addressing safety?

Peak hour congestion and off-peak speeding has compromised visibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and alternative transport users.

The improvements incorporate new shared pathways near the roundabout, connecting to existing shared paths along Girven Road and supporting safe travel for active users around the intersection.

Seven new pedestrian crossings will be installed in the area to support people reaching local shops, schools, and the beach. This includes three on Oceanbeach Road, two on approach to the roundabout from Girven Road and Maranui Street and two on Maranui Street near Omanu Way.

Why is a roundabout the best option to improve the roading design in this area?

Golf Road and Girven Road are the main access roads serving the Arataki area from State Highway 2 and are busy at peak times and prone to congestion. To lower the number of intersections and encourage a more seamless and safer traffic flow, a central roundabout has been installed at the Girven-Maranui Intersection and the right turn bay removed at the Oceanbeach-Girven intersection. This option should provide a high level of safety as roundabouts generally involve slower crash speeds than intersections controlled by traffic signals, stop, or give-way signs.

What support is there for pedestrians and cyclists in this new design?

To help manage traffic congestion we need to provide our community with safe, reliable and easy choices to get around Mount Maunganui. There are gaps in the network for walking and cycling, so many people are not choosing these options. Dedicated infrastructure like separated cycle lanes and shared paths will increase safety, which in turn encourages more people to walk or cycle.

The improvements incorporate new shared pathways near intersections and the new roundabout, connecting to existing shared paths along Girven Road and supporting safe travel for cyclists and pedestrians around the new intersection. The seven new pedestrian crossings provide an obvious safe crossing point for these active users as they head to the beach, school, or local shops. These crossings have been placed at natural points on the travel network where either the demand for people to cross is greater, or where the traffic naturally needs to slow for an intersection. By placing these crossings at strategic locations, there will be less need for unpredictable crossing along the street making it safer for everyone.