A raised speed table installed three years ago on one of Auckland's longest thoroughfares has been removed after residents complained of vibrations to their homes.
By Torika Tokalau for Local Democracy Reporting
The speed table on Great North Rd, at the intersection of Kirby St in Glendene, was removed in October – costing ratepayers an estimated $140,000.
It was installed in 2023 as part of an $800,000 project that included a signalised crossing.
Kerry Chote, a resident for more than a decade, said cracks started appearing at his home after the speed table was installed.
“At night time especially, those big trucks coming through, the vibrations... our whole house shook,” Chote said.
“It felt like somebody jumped on our roof.”
Chote said speeding was the real issue, and he had seen drivers veer off the road because they were driving too fast.
“Nobody is doing 50km/h, even when the speed table was here. It keeps me up at night, sometimes I’m just waiting for the bang – we’re all waiting for the bang.”
Chote said he was opposed to the speed table at the beginning.
“Now that it’s back to normal, the speed is unbelievable. At night time, you can hear the boy racers just speeding – they start at the top of the hill here and whoa!
“We don’t get the vibration anymore and the thumping at night time, but now the speeding is back ... it’s a race track out here.”
Another resident, Paul Ataya, said he was pleased the raised speed table was finally removed.
He said the sound of speeding vehicles going over the speed table kept him up at night.
“It’s mainly the trucks, they speed through here and then use their engine brake, which they shouldn’t be using in a residential area,” Ataya said.
“I’m happy the speed table has been taken away. What I’m not happy about is it’s cost a lot of money to put it there, and it’s cost a lot of money to remove it.”
Ataya, who has lived on Great North Road since the mid 50’s, didn’t understand why thousands were spent installing a traffic light and a raised speed table at the current location.
'Ill-thought out... residents were ignored'
He said it would have been better suited at the Kirby St intersection where drivers found it challenging to turn into Great North Rd.
“The whole thing was ill-thought out and recommendations given by residents – they were ignored. Council needs a good kick in the backside.”
Auckland Transport road safety engineering manager Michael Brown said the main objective of the initial project was to provide a safe crossing facility.
The speed table was part of a project that also installed a signalised crossing at a cost of $800,000.
“It’s important to note that, while the raised table has been removed, the crossing is still being retained and that was the objective of the project – to provide a safe crossing facility,” Brown said.
A council spokesperson said the removal was in response to ongoing community concerns regarding vibration.
Removal works were coordinated with resealing, and completed overnight on October 30 to minimise disruption.
“The estimated costs for removal of the table, including the reconstruction of adjacent footpaths and damaged catch pits, is $140,000.
“This is still an estimate as the final cost hasn’t been confirmed but will likely come in lower than this.”
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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