Central Connector

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Urban design and landscaping

The aim of the central connector (CC) is to create a busway that makes bus travel a better, and a more realistic choice for people. It is also a key pedestrian and general traffic route however, so it needs to be attractive and practical for pedestrians and cyclists as well.

The key challenge is balancing the design of an effective and efficient busway with the needs of people along the route - businesses, residents, pedestrians and cyclists.

Some of the road widths along the CC route are very limited, mostly due to geographical constraints, but also because we are preserving and protecting heritage areas such as the University of Auckland precinct, Grafton cemetery and Grafton Bridge.

To introduce bus lanes, we need to widen the road in parts and build new kerb lines. The urban environment will also be revamped in places, with new footpaths, new street furniture including bus stops with canopies for extra shelter, and landscaping, including planting new trees.

What's proposed

Revamping Beach Road:

• widening the road to introduce a right turn from Beach Road into Anzac Avenue for buses
• developing Beach Road and Anzac Avenue intersection by installing a new signalised pedestrian crossing, reducing the crossing distances and providing more footpath space so it better connects and leads into the Vector Arena footpaths
• retaining existing trees and connecting with the Vector Arena's landscaping strategy for Beach Road.

Widening and landscaping Anzac Avenue:

• introducing bus lanes that will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• changing the alignment of the road so there are better sightlines for cars and pedestrians
• keeping some parking for businesses and visitors
• felling some pohutukawa trees and planting more in the avenue. Trees are being removed to widen the road so bus lanes can be introduced, and to improve sightlines for added safety. No trees will be removed to accommodate parking.

Protecting the heritage of the university precinct:

• working within the drip line of 35 scheduled London Plane trees to build a new kerb line
• removing parking in between these trees to make it generally safer for people in this area
• as a result, protecting the roots of these trees to better preserve them for the future
• building new bus shelter canopies, giving better protection from the weather.

Improving the way Symonds Street looks, feels and works:

• planting new plane trees, to expand on the tree-lined university precinct.
• introducing 4.5m-wide bus lanes
• introducing cycle-friendly features
• preserving the historic toilet block.

Preserving Grafton Bridge for the future:

• once the CC is complete, it will act like other Auckland city bus lanes. Grafton Bridge will only be accessible for buses, bikes, motorbikes and emergency vehicles while it's operating - Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm.

Developing Park Road:

• improving the street environment around Grafton Village by installing new paving and street furniture, and retaining some parking for businesses and visitors in this busy area
• plant new trees to replace some that need to be felled. Most of these are to change the kerb line by the medical school and install a new bus stop and canopy
• 21 of the replacement trees were required as part of Auckland City Hospital's resource consent when they built the new hospital. We've waited to include these trees in the CC project, so it's well co-ordinated.