Planning

Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road

We're transforming Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road to provide safe and reliable travel choices for everyone and create a more attractive street environment.

About this project

Many people use Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road. As one of the city's most important commuter routes, it’s the busiest bus route outside of the city centre and Wellington's busiest cycle route. On an average weekday, there are more than 10,000 bus passengers and up to 1,300 cyclists.

New paths proposed as part of this project will complete the walking and biking link into the central city from Ngauranga. This project will also link to Te Ara Tupua, the planned shared path between Ngauranga and Petone, which will enable more people to walk and cycle between the Hutt Valley and Wellington.

We’re looking at ways to:

  • improve safety for everyone
  • give buses more priority
  • improve intersections and pedestrian crossings
  • provide better walking and cycling facilities
  • enhance the street environment to create attractive spaces
  • maintain similar access to the Kaiwharawhara ferry terminal for passengers and freight.

View the proposal

What is planned

We’re installing peak hour bus lanes in both directions to improve bus travel times and reliability, encouraging more people to use public transport.  

During the morning peak traffic hours, there will be a dedicated bus lane into the city. This means buses will be able to bypass any morning peak traffic queues, improving bus reliability and reducing travel time. In the afternoon peak traffic hours, there will be a dedicated bus lane, out of the city.  

Making changes to the number of parking spaces and what they can be used for including more mobility parks and loading zones. There will always be on-street parking available.  

During off-peak hours there will be 260 parking spaces, and during peak hours there will be 130-138 spaces, including mobility, delivery, and short-term parks.  

Introducing a two-way cycleway on Thorndon Quay to connect the existing cycleway on Hutt Road to the city.  

Installing pavement designs and cycleway crossings around childcare facilities to increase awareness and make it safer for everyone. These designs have been informed by the trials on Hutt Road during August and September.  

We are also proposing to reduce the speed between Tinakori Road and Mulgrave Street from 50kph to 30kph, linking into the existing CBD 30kph zone at Mulgrave Street. This aligns with the Wellington City Council approach on speed setting adopted in respond to the Land Transport Rule Setting of Speeds 2022. This reflects the new street environment, increased number of cyclists, and is suitable for the large number of children using the street.  

Making Thorndon Quay more attractive by increasing lighting, seating and planting  

Developing streetscape designs with Mana Whenua that reflect the culture and history of this area. 

Where this project is happening

Thorndon Quay starts just north of the Lambton Quay bus interchange and runs for about 1km north to the intersection of Hutt Road and Tinakori Road.

Hutt Road runs parallel to State Highway 1 and the railway line for about 4km to the bottom of the Ngauranga Gorge.

Key

Thorndon Quay

Hutt Road

Previous engagement

Temporary Cycle Path Trials on Hutt Road

In August 2022 we made temporary changes to the layout of the cycle path and surrounding pavement outside two places on Hutt Road to improve safety and reduce conflicts between users.

The changes were made outside Active Explorers early learning centre and BestStart Kaiwharawhara day care facility, at 168 and 172 Hutt Road. We set up a trial to understand how people who move around this area would respond to different layouts and materials on the cycle path and pavement for this part of Hutt Road.

Thorndon Quay Traffic Resolutions

In November 2022 we asked for feedback on the emerging detailed design of Haukawakawa | Thorndon Quay to help finalise what it will look like, changes to speed limits on Haukawakawa | Thorndon Quay, and traffic resolutions for a variety of traffic and parking changes from Bunny Street, through Thorndon Quay, and up to the Aotea Quay overbridge. Consultation closed on the 9th of December 2022.

Temporary cycle path trials on Hutt Road

In August 2022, we made temporary changes to the layout of the cycle path and surrounding pavement outside two places on Hutt Road to improve safety and reduce conflicts between users. We set up this trial to understand how people who move around this area will respond to different layouts and materials on the cycle path and pavement for this part of Hutt Road. 

June - July Traffic Resolution

As part of the Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road project, we’re currently planning construction of a roundabout on Aotea Quay. We have shared the designs and engaged with our communities and stakeholders on the traffic resolution needed for the roundabout. Consultation closed 5pm on 17th July 2022.

2021 Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road Proposal

The feedback we’ve received on this proposal informed the preferred option to make safe and reliable travel choices, and a more attractive street environment.

Safety changes have already been made to Thorndon Quay by changing angle parking to parallel parking and improving safety for people travelling through the area. These parking changes were part of the consultation and approved by Wellington City Council traffic resolution on 24 June 2021.

Timeline

2020

Using the feedback from public engagement and talking with key stakeholders, we drew up a very long list of hundreds of ideas to improve Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road and develop the objectives for the project.

To get to a long list of potentially viable options, we assessed the ideas against project objectives. This initial assessment got the list down to about 16 options.

To get to a short list of 16 options, we assessed the long list in more detail. The options were assessed against the project objectives, the impact of the changes and how easy they would be to build.

From the short list, we developed a proposed solution for the public to have their say.

May-June 2021

Proposal opened for feedback from 11 May 2021.

 

Late 2021

Safety changes have been made on Thorndon Quay, changing the angle parking to parallel parking, improving safety for cyclists and travel through the area for all users.

These parking changes were part of the Let’s Get Wellington Moving consultation and approved by Wellington City Council by traffic resolution on 24 June 2021.

February 2022

We’ll feedback what we’ve heard from you.

 

Early 2022

We’ll share with you the preferred option to make safe and reliable travel choices, and a more attractive street environment.

 

Late 2022

Have your say on proposed bus lane hours, speed review and parking changes.

 

Late 2023

Construction begins on walking, cycling, bus priority, safety and street 'look and feel' improvements

 

Find out more

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We’re here to help. If you are unable to find the information you need, please get in touch and our team will get back to you.
Email us on: tqhr@lgwm.nz

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