Mill Street congestion to reduce through management and safety improvements

Improvements to three intersections along Mill Street are aimed to maximise the capacity of Mill Street, lower congestion at intersections and improve road safety and cycle facilities.

Overall the Access Hamilton project will create a northbound two lane priority on Willoughby Street from Liverpool Street right onto Mill Street and left around into Ulster Street. Willoughby Street will be widened for the two northbound lanes and a new island will be put in place replacing the flush median.

To aid the free flow of traffic along Mill Street the right turn into Pak n Save will be restricted from Monday 11 May.

Southbound traffic through the route will benefit from road marking changes on Ulster Street/Mill Street intersection where two right turning lanes will be extended leaving one straight ahead lane and the existing left turn lane. On Mill Street the left turn slip lane will be extended enabling free left turn traffic heading for Willoughby Street not to be caught up with west bound traffic stopped at the lights.

Safety and capacity improvements will be made at the intersection of Victoria and Mill streets. On Victoria Street double right turn lanes onto Boundary Road and the bridge will be created as will a single southbound lane into the CBD.

The current right turn from Mill Street onto Victoria Street will also be restricted from Monday 11 May.

Traffic engineering supervisor Shaun Peterson says the improvements at the four locations on Mill Street have been brought together into one project to maximise the capacity of the central city connector while supporting the goals of CityHeart and Access Hamilton.

“Mill Street is a major arterial and an integral part of the ring road. These improvements will help traffic flow and will provide significant improvements to existing traffic conditions. One example is the intersection of Mill and Victoria streets is the third highest crash location in the city and the highest non-state highway location. The removal of the right turn will not only give more time to straight through traffic but will reduce the incidence of crashes at the intersection.”