If you’ve ever lived in Birkenhead or Birkdale, you’ll know one thing for sure—Onewa Road can be a bit of a bottleneck.

It’s one of Auckland’s busiest routes, and for anyone heading to work in the city, or school, getting through the traffic can test your patience.

Now, Auckland Transport (AT) and the Kaipātiki Local Board are working on a plan to make Onewa Road more efficient—and they want to hear what locals in the area think.

AT says around 30,000 vehicles travel Onewa Road daily, moving an estimated 100,000 people.

It’s already a model of productivity, with a T3 lane helping buses and carpoolers travel faster.

But as North Shore Councillor Richard Hills points out, there’s room for improvement.

“Residents and businesses rely on Onewa Road every day, and it’s important it stays efficient for our growing community,” Cr Hills says.

“The T3 lane moves more than 65% of morning commuters, but we need improvements for all users.”

AT’s Road Network Optimisation Manager, Chris Martin, agrees.

“By making the road more productive at moving people, we can reduce journey times for everyone,” he says.

“We’re looking at bus boosters and queue detection technology to help move things along even faster.”

There are also plans for a shared path for pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter riders, as well as better technology at pedestrian crossings—especially around the three schools along Onewa Road.

Northcote MP Dan Bidois says he’s backing the plans.

“This isn’t a rebuild. It’s about making the most of the space we’ve got to ease congestion and make the road safer.”

Onewa Road already has two lanes in each direction, with the eastbound T3 lane in place since 1982 and the westbound since 2015.

Improvements over recent years—like extra CCTV cameras and more frequent bus services—have helped, including the upgraded 94 bus which now runs every 15 minutes from Beach Haven to Takapuna.

This project is part of a wider programme by AT and NZ Transport Agency to use smarter tech and solutions to keep Auckland’s roads moving as the population—and traffic—keep growing.

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