Rules of engagement

At any retail centre there is a need for spacious parking, well-organised traffic flows, aesthetics, and safety for cars, bicycles and pedestrians.

Traffic Design Group carried out all aspects of the traffic engineering and transportation planning for the Westfield Albany centre from concept design and feasibility through to detailed design during the construction phrase, says principal transportation engineer Daryl Hughes.

Challenges included designing the centre's transportation elements to comply with the council's vision for Albany, which included pedestrian throughflows, incorporating the large number of carparks required, and designing access intersections to accommodate all service vehicles, cars and pedestrians. The northern parking area, along the frontage with Civic Crescent, is an example of the detailed consideration involved.

"Initially, the Council were reluctant to permit any parking at this location so as to avoid potential conflict, as high pedestrian connectivity was envisaged with the Council's land to the north," says Hughes. "However, it was considered essential to enhance the active frontage for the north-facing restaurants by introducing parking spaces, which in turn generate pedestrian activity."

The compromise was to introduce a block-paved angular parking area with pedestrian priority and integral traffic-calming a set of strategies aimed at slowing down traffic. This resulted in vehicle and pedestrian activity, and ensured pedestrians were safe. It also provided landscaped extensions to the Civic Plaza area.

For further information, contact Traffic Design Group, phone (09) 302 0901. Or visit the website: www.tdg.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas