Around 15,000 vehicles, as well as cyclists and pedestrians, use Albany Highway every day. This regional arterial road serves the North Harbour industrial estate, five schools, Massey University, and a cluster of residential estates. The ($40 mil+) upgrade of the 4km stretch of Albany Highway between the Upper Harbour Motorway (SH18) and Dairy Flat Highway (SH17) is essential for reducing congestion, improving safety for all road users (including the area’s 5,000 school students) and encouraging the use of all modes of transport.
Isthmus have been engaged by Auckland Transport since 2010 through the Investigation, Consenting and Detail Design phases of the project working with GHD civils and structural Engineers. Our scope of works included Urban Design and Landscape input and review throughout the project programme, Landscape and Visual Effects Assessment, preparation and presentation of evidence for the Notice of Requirement Hearing and Detail Design documentation for the route wide softworks and mitigation plans for private properties.
In the early stages of the project we developed an Urban Design and Landscape Framework (UDLF) with agreed design parameters for the key components of the upgrade including: geometric design; cycle/pedestrian pathway and on-road cycle way configuration; paving; supergraphics; median/crossing configuration; retaining walls; Days Bridge design; street furniture; storm water and utilities design; route wide planting; private property mitigation; and particular amenity trees. These parameters were tested through the Scheme Assessment and Notice of Requirement phases of the project and then developed into a detailed design strategy to guide the construction documentaion. This approach allowed the design team to clearly document the way in which alternatives had been considered and how the preferred alignment and design options reduced adverse effects and ensured a high level of amenity and pedestrian and cyclist benefits. As a condition of consent, the UDLF also ensured that Urban Design and Landscape matters were prioritised through detailed design and supervision requirements.
With the construction phase of the project set to commence in July 2013, community and key stakeholder consultation has been further assisted by the photosimulations produced by our in-house visualisation team. These images provide further proof of the value of the UDLF process with the before and after views clearly demonstrating how multiple objectives can be achieved through a design led process.
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