Auckland Transport is proposing a set of changes to one of the North Shore’s most frustrating traffic pinch points, with plans aimed at improving traffic flow, pedestrian safety and bus movement through the Belmont Shops section of Lake Road.

The proposal focuses on the intersection around Lake Road, Bayswater Avenue and Williamson Avenue, an area used daily by people travelling to and from Devonport, Bayswater and Takapuna.

For many residents on the Devonport Peninsula, Lake Road has long been more than just a local road. It is the main connection in and out of the area, and delays around Belmont Shops have become a regular part of daily travel.

Auckland Transport says the road layout around Belmont Shops has not been significantly improved for decades. The agency believes the area now needs a more modern and practical design to deal with congestion, confusing lane movements, pedestrian safety concerns and public transport delays.

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What is being proposed?

The proposed changes include a short morning clearway on Lake Road between Bayswater Avenue and Egremont Street. This would operate between 7am and 9am on weekdays during the morning rush.

The purpose of the clearway is to create more room for vehicles travelling towards Takapuna to merge safely after the intersection. AT says this should help reduce queues that currently spill back through the traffic lights and slow movement along Lake Road.

Other proposed changes include:

  • Clearer lane layouts and road markings
  • Improved signal operations on Bayswater Avenue and Williamson Avenue
  • Safer and more direct pedestrian crossings
  • Removal of the current zebra crossing near the left-turn slip lane at Williamson Avenue
  • Conversion of the slip lane into a signalised movement
  • Bus stop changes for routes 814 and 805
  • A new bus shelter on Lake Road
  • Better access to local shops, parks, beaches and community facilities

The changes are being described as low-cost and high-impact, meaning they are not a full Lake Road upgrade, but an attempt to bring forward targeted improvements at one of the worst pressure points.

Why Belmont Shops has become a traffic problem

The congestion problem is mainly caused by the way vehicles move through and out of the Belmont Shops intersection.

At present, cars moving through the intersection have to merge from two lanes back into one lane shortly after the lights. AT says there is not enough road space to manage this smoothly, which means queues can build up quickly and sometimes block the intersection itself.

The area also has several other issues. Cars move in and out of parking spaces near shops. Some lanes are used for multiple turning movements, which can confuse drivers and reduce how efficiently the traffic lights work. Pedestrians, including school children, also cross through a busy area where visibility and crossing distances can be challenging.

For locals, this is not a new complaint. Lake Road congestion has been a long-running concern across Devonport, Belmont and Bayswater, with many residents arguing that the area needs action before traffic gets worse.

Local leaders support progress

North Shore Ward Councillor John Gillon said Lake Road congestion is one of the most frustrating issues facing local residents.

He said the long-awaited upgrade of the Belmont Shops intersection would help address one of the key congestion pinch points and improve safety. He also encouraged the community to provide feedback on the project.

North Shore MP Simon Watts has also backed the proposed improvements, saying he is pleased to see progress following ongoing engagement with Auckland Transport and NZTA.

He said the investment would help reduce traffic congestion and make the community safer and more resilient.

Auckland Councillor Richard Hills also welcomed the proposal, although he noted that many residents had been disappointed after wider Lake Road upgrade funding was de-prioritised through government budgets.

Hills said this project brings part of the solution forward in the meantime. He said AT wants to hear from people who walk, drive, cycle, use buses or travel through the area in other ways before the design is finalised and work begins.

Pedestrian safety is a key part of the plan

Auckland Transport says pedestrian safety is a major reason for the proposed redesign.

Chris Martin, AT Group Manager of Road Network Operations, said the proposal includes straightening and upgrading pedestrian crossings and waiting areas around the intersection.

The current zebra crossing and left-turn slip lane at Williamson Avenue would be removed. Instead, the movement would become part of the controlled signalised intersection.

AT says this would make crossings easier to understand, reduce crossing distances and improve visibility between pedestrians and vehicles.

This point matters because Belmont Shops is not only a vehicle corridor. It is also a local shopping area, a walking route and a place where school children and families move through daily. A road design that only focuses on vehicle flow would miss half the problem.

Bus services also affected

Public transport is another major part of the proposal.

AT says that between 1 January and 28 April 2026, around 31,000 bus passengers travelled on route 814 past the current Belmont Shops stop location.

At the moment, the 814 bus reaches its stop near Elizabeth Dairy and then has to re-enter Williamson Avenue by moving in front of waiting vehicles. It then passes the slip lane and pedestrian crossing before continuing onto Lake Road towards Devonport.

AT says this movement is difficult and can block straight-through traffic during green light phases.

Under the proposal, route 814 buses would use a new stop on Lake Road near the existing location, with a new shelter. AT also proposes moving the bus stop beside the Belmont Shops playground and adding a new bus stop layover on Williamson Avenue for route 805.

Public feedback open until 21 June

Auckland Transport is inviting public feedback on the proposal until 21 June 2026.

Residents, commuters, business owners, pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users and regular Lake Road drivers can share their views through AT’s Have Your Say website.

The feedback process is important because the proposal affects several groups at once. Drivers want shorter delays. Pedestrians want safer crossings. Bus users want reliable services. Local businesses want access and visibility. Residents want a road that works without creating new problems outside their homes.

Webfit News perspective

This proposal may look like a small road design change, but for Devonport Peninsula residents, Lake Road is a daily pressure point. A few minutes of delay each day becomes hours over a month. That affects work, school runs, bus reliability, local shopping and general frustration.

The real test for Auckland Transport will not be whether the design looks good on a map. The test will be whether it actually improves the morning peak, keeps pedestrians safer and avoids simply moving the congestion to another nearby point.

Belmont Shops is a local centre, not just a traffic corridor. Any final design must protect that balance.

For now, the most practical step for residents is simple: check the proposal, look at how it affects your daily movement, and send feedback before 21 June. If people stay silent and complain later, that is too late. This is the moment to speak.