Highway Civil Engineering: The Redoubt Road-Mill Road Corridor - Case Study Example

The Redoubt Road-Mill Road Corridor al Affiliation Table of Contents page Background Information 3 Project Objective3 Project History 4 Consultation Process 4 Project detail 5 Pedestrian Improvement i Cycling Improvement ii Public Transport Improvement iii Affected Parties 6 Environmental Concern 7 Benefits 8 References 9 Information The transport system in the Auckland especially to the southern part is overburdened and more so inefficient. For the past years, there has been underinvestment in the public transport, the existing settlement pattern and the narrow neck of land which has been accumulated over the past decisions made over the past years. This therefore has resulted in the populations in the region relying more on the private cars primarily for transport. As a result, roads and motorways are highly congested and further expansion is strictly limited (Auckland Transport, Auckland & Terralink 2012). In this regard, Auckland is in need of an integrated transport network that facilitates people and goods to move freely and efficiently, while regarding the need for place-making. This network comprises of motorways, roads, motorways and streets, public transport, foot paths. To do away with the transport problem, the major goal of the Auckland is to integrate all transport components using a single system approach that requires a lot of co-ordination between the Auckland Council and the central government (Apcon Group. (1975). This has been observed by initiation of the New Network for South Auckland. The Redoubt Corridor project will help confirm a preferred route that is safe, meets future needs and provides for all conveyance modes. To achieve this, Auckland transport has made some planning to ensure that the land for expansion is safe for the construction of the Road-Mill Road Corridor in mid this year (Auckland Transport, Auckland & Terralink 2012). Project Objective The major objective of the project involves; first is to improve alternatives for the citizen’s transport with the bus. This will make it possible for the key intersections and westbound bus lane between Hollyford Drive and the state highway. Second is to provide the pedestrians and cyclists with cycle-ways, footpath and safe roads crossing at signalized intersections and road-about. Third is to increase road capacity from two to four lanes to facilitate and help the projected increase in population. Third is to provide a north-south high quality roads/route to as an option to the southern motorway (LePage, 2007).Next is to provide and improve road safety for all the road users. This will be achieved by widening the road, reducing transitional curves and more so improving the sight distances. Five is to contribute to the transport objectives of the Auckland Plan, particularly the Southern initiative and lastly is to reduce and lessen any adverse environmental, cultural and social impacts due to corridor improvement (Apcon Group. (1975). Project History The Redoubt Road-Mill Road Corridor project was formerly carried on as two different schemes by Papakura District Council and Manukau City Council. The Southern Sector Strategic Transport Study was done in 2004-2006 and recognized the importance of further inquiry into the future capacity and safety of the Redoubt Road-Mill Road Corridor. Consultation process Initial consultation with the community was performed by both former councils to present preliminary options and to gather information and feedback. To allow public into the project such programs as public information days, newsletters, feedback forms and public meetings were conducted. The project is now being continued with, through the route designation phase by Auckland Transport, an Auckland Council organization (Auckland 1999). Public Information days were hosted by Auckland Transport in October 2012 to present the planned design to the wider community and to have one-to-one discussions with most impacted owners. Project Details The major aim of the Redoubt Road Corridor improvement is to provide an alternative to public transport, provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclist and more so contribute to the transport objectives of the Auckland Plan, specifically the Southern Initiative. Pedestrian Improvement To improve this part of road section, there is a plan to provide a two-meter wide footpath. This will be provided on both sides of the Redoubt Road, from state highway until Mill road directly after the Murphys Road intersection at Ranfurly Road (Auckland 1999). Secondly is that a two-meter wide footpath on both sides of Murphys Road will also be provided to ease the congestions. Third thing to be done to assist on the pedestrian section is provision of traffics signals at intersections at Hollyford Drive/Redoubt Road, Diorella Drive/Redoubt Road and Murphys and Murphys Road/Roundabout (Auckland Transport, Auckland & Terralink 2012). This will be for the pedestrian crossing on foot at the intersections. Pedestrian facilities such as safe crossing refuge facilities in the median island will be fixed at the roundabout intersections at Mill Road/Ranfurly Road and Mill Road/ Alfriston Road. Last but not list is that there may be need to relocate the some of the shared-use bridle trails within Totara Park. However, so as to maintain the integrity of the trail network, to reduce possible consequences on the users, any bridle that may be removed or relocated so as to accommodate the proposed corridor development project shall be relocated inside the park (Auckland & Kingston Morrison, 1995). Cycling Improvement The projected blueprint provides on-road cycle lanes for lengths of Mill Road, Redoubt Road and Part of Murphys Road. These lanes will range between 1.5 - 2 meters in length. The rearrangement of Mill Road South of Redoubt Road will enable the cyclist to use the old Mild Road as a substitute route to the new road corridor. In addition intersection with well installed signals will be put in place with which will have advanced boxes for cyclists to wait at signals or to move across the lanes enabling them make good turns (Apcon Group. (1975). Lastly is that the new westbound bus lane has been anticipated linking the Hollyford Drive and motorway intersection. This will be shared by cyclist moving towards westbound. Public Transport Improvements The Redoubt Road- Mill Road Corridor will provide more recurrent and more dependable public transport services. These projects are part of the Auckland-wide bus network appraisal, which is intended at delivering a simplified, improved integrated bus network of fewer routes operating more frequently for much longer hours (LePage, 2007). In the Auckland bus network, three types of services have been proposed that include first is frequent bus service in service at least every 15 minutes from 7 am to 7 pm for a week. Second is local bus in service at least every 30 minutes from 7 am to 7 pm for a week (Auckland & Kingston Morrison, 1995). While the last is other services that will not operate all day or every day but only during the peak hours or school services. Affected Parties The affected parties are the commuters, students, public who rely on roads on all their operations and lastly are the weekend and occasional users. To the commuters an all day network such as car travel after 15 or 30 minutes between 7 am and 7 am for a week will help them as this will be an improved service and reliable when flexibility is needed. For example, when attending meetings, working longer hours or even shopping or socializing after work. To the students, the all day network will enable them make it easier and reliable especially while changing routines such as varying class and study hours, visits, hobbies, shopping or even part time work. To the public, they will benefit highly due to the fact that they will be able to get to different parts of Auckland as they will be accessible within their time frames such as on appointment (Auckland Regional Transport Authority, 2009).To the weekend and occasional users, it will make easier for them to understand and plan their journey with much ease. On the weekend, the whole day network operation will be easy especially for the occasions such as sports, socializing and leisure and other overtime working hours. Environmental Concern This projected position goes through pastoral and urban landscape which can cause a lot harm to indigenous plants and animal habitat. However, inside stream gullies, patches of native bush are still there (Auckland Regional Transport Authority, 2009).Such birds as long tailed bats are spotted in the region where the proposed corridor is situated at the Hunua Ecological District. The main water resource catchment areas where the project is situated include Otara Creek, Totara Creek and Papakura Creek. Fresh water species such as long-fins eels, short-fin eels, among others will be highly affected. Therefore, to avoid these damages, care will be taken in both design and construction so as to sustain these catchments. In addition, bridges will be put in place over streams to lessen effects on the catchment areas (Auckland 1999). In addition storm-water management technique will be put in place as part of the project to avoid or lessen any too much effect to on the ecology effects brought about by the increase in storm-water runoff ((Apcon Group, 1975). Benefit of the Project The completion of the project will have very many benefits. First is that there will be increased frequencies. This is evidence with the many routes to different destinations as shown in the picture. This will save time for both existing passengers and potential passengers. Second is that there will be in increased access to frequent services. This will help in the elimination of travel timetables. Third is there will be all day services that will be of great help to students and commuters and also to all other users in this region (Auckland Regional Transport Authority, 2009). The Redoubt Road-Mill Road Corridor References Auckland Transport, Auckland (N.Z.)., & Terralink NZ Limited. (2012). Central cycle map: Your introduction to cycling in Auckland. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland Transport. Auckland Regional Transport Authority. (2009). Auckland transport plan 2009. Auckland, N.Z: Auckland Regional Transport Authority. Auckland (N.Z. : Region). (1999). Managing the regions transport system: Auckland regional land transport strategy : summary. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland Regional Council. Auckland (N.Z. : Region)., & Kingston Morrison. (1995). Environmental standards for components of the transport system. Auckland, N.Z.: Kingston Morrison. Apcon Group. (1975). Apcon plan : alternative rapid transport system for Auckland: Prepared by Apcon Group. Auckland: Apcon Group. Feinman, G. M., & Nicholas, L. M. (May 31, 2013). Settlement Patterns of the Ejutla Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico: A Diachronic Macroscale Perspective. Fieldiana Anthropology, 1-330. LePage, B. A. (October 01, 2007). The Taxonomy and Biogeographic History of Glyptostrobus Endlicher (Cupressaceae). Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 48, 2, 359-426. Read More