June 2022
From 27 June to 17 July 2022, we asked the public to provide their feedback, via a survey on the LGWM website, on a proposed traffic resolution to change the existing signalised intersection to a roundabout located on Aotea Quay.
We received 114 responses to the online survey and one by direct email, with 69% in favour of the change. Those in support thought it would assist in the movement of freight to the ferry terminal and the port and improve the safety of Hutt Road by reducing the number of heavy vehicles on this road.
Of the 115 respondents, 109 people provided further comments and seven people provided a written submission. Some submitters (14%) raised concerns about the provisions for pedestrians and cyclists in the roundabout design. Of those that did not support the proposal, the key concern was the cost relative to the perceived benefit as well as the potential to further slow traffic. 78 of the 109 commenters (85%) were supportive of the roundabout overall.
For more detail, the full engagement report can be found here.
April 2022
At the beginning of April, as part of the work we did on the design of the roundabout, the team spent 48 hours on site at Aotea Quay. They checked the existing ground and pavement conditions, looked at how to accommodate utilities and services such as water mains, electrical cables and communications cables, and trialled traffic management set-ups for upcoming construction work. The results of these traffic management trials will help the team plan the construction of roundabout with minimal disruption.
The team also carried out pavement and geotechnical investigations at various locations within the work site, with samples of soil taken from the ground under Aotea Quay. We were aware of a high possibility of contaminated material being present in the soil and made sure the health and safety risks were managed by using windowless sampling. Soil samples were placed in plastic tubes to minimise exposure, and utilities were scanned from manholes to avoid digging into the contaminated land.
The site investigation results were better than expected, with only two samples containing a relatively small amount of asbestos contamination. The remaining samples all had elevated levels of heavy metals; however, these all fell within the expected limits for Class A material which can be readily disposed of at approved landfill sites.
Risks outlined in the Site Investigation works summary were mitigated using windowless sampling. Windowless sampling ensures that friable material does not become airborne and that all hazardous waste is retrieved in a contained and controlled manner.
The site investigation findings have helped in the development of the permanent design methodology, which mitigates the contaminated land risk into the construction phase. The design has incorporated a structural asphalt overlay, to raise the height of the roundabout from existing road level. This design limits the amount of excavation required in the project, subsequently limiting the exposure to contaminated material. Small volumes of contaminated material extraction will be managed through the supervision of an approved asbestos removal consultancy during construction. Contaminated Waste and Asbestos Removal Management Plans are being generated to document safe removal practices ahead of construction.
As we developed the roundabout design, it was crucial that we worked together with our stakeholders to get their insights and input. Along with carrying out a successful investigation at the site, our team also hosted several face-to-face sessions with stakeholders at Aotea Quay. The feedback we received from these conversations is incorporated into the design where appropriate and will help us mitigate disruption during construction of the roundabout.