Safety upgrades aimed at slowing drivers on popular Piha road

An access road to a popular Auckland waterfall track will finally be made safer after years of concern from residents about speeding and illegal parking.

Auckland Transport is looking into installing speed bumps and Share with Care signs at Glenesk Road, the only pedestrian access way to the popular Kitekite Falls attraction at the Waitākere Ranges.

The road is usually packed during summer.

Piha Residents and Ratepayers Association committee member Geoff Calvert said it was about time something was done to improve safety on the narrow road.

Calvert, who has lived on Glenesk Rd for more than 20 years, said speeding was an ongoing issue, especially for pedestrians who were forced to walk on the road because of the lack of footpaths.

"People just want something done," Calvert said.

He said with the limited parking at the Kitekite Falls track, cars also often lined the sides of the unmarked, narrow road making it even dangerous for pedestrians and other vehicles.

"When we walk down on it, we're walking on the middle of the road, or the side.

"It's a shared zone and people are walking with kids and dogs, then we get a lot of traffic during summertime to the waterfalls because it's a busy attraction.

"We're finding people are driving with a lack of regard for people walking."

He said some drivers seemed to think the road belonged only to them.

"Most people are quite good but there seems to be an attitude of 'get out of the bloody road', but really they should be slowing down because it is a shared area."

Calvert said past resolutions by AT to deter speeding and illegal parking had not worked.

He believed clear signage from the top of Piha Road was important, to let motorists know to slow down and that they were entering a shared road where pedestrians could be walking.

"Residents all unanimously agree that speeding is a problem, I don't think there is anyone on that road that would disagree with that.

"As long as something is done ... something that works."

Ken Cowan, also from the resident group, said the group had tried to make Glenesk Rd and other Piha roads safer for a long time.

He wanted the 50kph speed limit on all Piha roads reduced.

"Maybe speed humps or bumps would not be necessary if we reduced the speed limit."

At Thursday's local board workshop, AT presented an update on the Glenesk Road safety improvements, which included detailed design of what the road may look like.

Proposed improvements also included 'SLOW' road markings with red patches, new wheel stops with 'No Stopping' signs, pedestrian warning signs and markings in both directions of a speed bump to help improve visibility.

AT was encouraged to speak to residents to get local knowledge and insight of the issues, before getting local board endorsement.