Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has released proposed changes to reshape transport in central Dunedin and achieve safe and efficient access to the city’s new hospital.
From today, people can have their say on the preferred option for State Highway 1 Cumberland Street and State Highway 88 St Andrew Street, both of which are key routes connecting people to the new Dunedin Hospital. The hospital’s main inpatient and outpatient public entrances will both open onto the intersection of these two streets.
The proposed roading changes, developed in partnership with Dunedin City Council after previous rounds of community feedback, can be viewed in detail here.
“The new hospital development is a once in a generation development for Dunedin. It presents an exciting opportunity to reshape the surrounding transport infrastructure to best serve the community,” says NZTA Director of Regional Relationships, Ian Duncan.
“Up to 10,000 pedestrians will be walking in and around the new hospital facilities daily when open. Many of these people will be ill, elderly or vulnerable, so safety will be paramount. Access to the new hospital will need to cater for frequent pick-ups and drop-offs by vehicles, and for unimpeded access by emergency services.”
“At the same time, these changes we have laid out are aimed at ensuring we continue to have good traffic flow for road users in and out of Dunedin’s CBD.”
Proposed changes include the following:
- A new Barnes Dance crossing (where all pedestrians cross the road at once) at the SH88 St Andrew Street/SH1 Cumberland Street intersection to help people reach the hospital public entrances safely.
- Removal of the westbound right turn from SH88 St Andrew Street onto SH1 Cumberland Street to make space and time for the increased number of pedestrians, including people with mobility needs, to cross the road.
- Two new signalised pedestrian crossings on SH1 outside the Woolworths and the Centre City New World supermarkets.
- Changes to St Andrew Street and other nearby streets to help people driving, walking and cycling, and emergency vehicles, move safely and smoothly around the hospital and surrounding area.
- Frederick Street will become the new SH88, moving right turning traffic from St Andrew Street to other streets.
“Some of the proposed changes will mean road users having to adapt to new ways of moving through the area, but we think these are practical and sensible moves to make it safe and efficient for everyone,” Mr Duncan says.
“We intend to have clear signage and guidance in place when any changes are introduced to avoid confusion.”
“The removal of the right turn from St Andrew Street onto SH1 for westbound traffic is seen as the only practical option to give pedestrians enough time to cross safely and to keep traffic flowing.’’
Removal of this right turn will mean Hanover and Frederick Streets are expected to become key alternative routes for light vehicles. Larger trucks are expected to use Ward Street and the overbridge onto Frederick Street as an alternative route.
“Both Hanover and Frederick Streets can handle the expected changes in traffic volumes, and we don’t believe travel times are going to be greatly affected.”
The proposed removal of a right turn on St Andrew Street will mean traffic will be spread across other routes.
The proposed changes do have some impact upon car parking, such as on the north side of St Andrew Street near Dunedin Central Fire Station where roading improvements mean the loss of 14 parks. This will be partially offset by new parks in Harrow Street, and analysis of public parking available in the wider vicinity of the new hospital shows there are multiple off-road parking facilities available to be used in addition to provision being made at the hospital itself.
The proposed changes for SH1 and SH88 build on earlier work in 2023, when the decision was made to keep Dunedin’s existing SH1 one-way system.
Mr Duncan says public feedback on the current proposed changes will need to be considered before any work on the affected streets take place over the next few years.
People can view the proposed changes and give their feedback via an online form. Printed material with the proposed changes and feedback forms can be found in the next few days at Dunedin City Council libraries and service centres, and those not online can send their feedback to NZTA by post.
View proposed changes and give feedback
Feedback closes on 28 July, 2025.
