Since 2021, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) has done heaps of advertising, letter drops, media coverage and public consultation about the changes happening to Albany Street and surrounding areas. The $4.8 million Albany Street Connection Project (ASCP) construction and road reseal will fully take place late 2026, adding a whole bunch of pedestrian and cyclist friendly shit to streets around the Uni.
Some of the changes have already taken place to streets such as Clyde and Leith, leading to a sense of frustration from students who have rocked up this year with little to no knowledge about the ASCP grand plan. However, many have rocked up with a car, and seemingly less places to park it (for free). The ASCP will inevitably have some impact on all residential flats sitting on the streets connecting to Albany, so it’s worth bearing in mind when flat hunting for 2027.
What is the ASCP?
According to the DCC, ASCP aims to “improve safety for the thousands of pedestrians moving along and across Albany Street daily”, through a fleet of parking, street and cycleway changes. The ASCP is not here to fuck around – a total of five raised pedestrian crossings will be installed, which means playing Crossy Road (Otago Student Edition) will soon be out of fashion.
Despite the ASCP all being for the greater good, change can be painful. 24 restricted and 24 unrestricted parks will be lost to the ASCP, with a further 138 parks changing in restriction type.
Whatever the case, the ASCP changes are extensive, and will have an impact on Uni-adjacent residential streets. Critic Te Ārohi is here to break down some of the major proposed changes, so students know what to expect over the coming year.
Albany Street – Outside the Central Library
Albany Street itself will be getting a bunch of changes, including new mobility car parks, new paid parking, parking restriction changes and a reduction in spaces on the northern side of Albany Street.
A couple of those pesky trees (and thirteen P240 parks, RIP) outside Central Library will be getting knocked out to make way for a new two way cycleway that runs from Cumberland Street to Anzac Ave out to the harbour, requiring the shifting of the bus stop down a bit to be outside the Burns Lecture Theatre. These changes create P5 parking spots outside Cench. A further three new P5s will be outside Property Services, and five P60s. The three mobility parks along this section of Albany will be removed and shifted to the Uni ends of Ethel Benjamin Place and Leith Street. Clubs and Socs will gain another bus stop and have the mobility park removed.
Most excitingly, a raised pedestrian crossing will be installed that basically connects Clubs and Socs to the Library, meaning you’re far less likely to be taken out on your way to $5 Lunch. There will be another one connecting where the Property Services Building is to Leith Street, making grabbing a box easier than ever.
Clyde Street – The Roundabout Intersection End
Clyde Street is also getting a bit of a revamp. Some changes have already been made to parking, and the eventual plan will be to make this part of Clyde a one-way street exiting onto Frederick Street.
Clyde now has twenty two paid P120 parks on the Albany Street side, with the rest of the street remaining unrestricted. According to a DCC spokesperson, the increased parking on Clyde Street is intended to offset the loss of nearby parking on Albany Street. “The changed parking restrictions aim to better provide for the different needs in the area, encourage greater parking use. It does not represent the ‘commercialisation’ of Clyde Street, nor does it seek to increase council revenue from parking fees and charges.”
If the Council decides to charge $3.50 an hour for parking (the standard inner city rate) paying for 5 days of parking comes out to $168. And that’s assuming you can outsmart the parking wardens by shifting your car every couple of hours. Something to bear in mind.
Eventually, the unrestricted parking will be redesigned into angled parking, creating more space – though the exact number of parks are to be confirmed based on the DCC plans. A raised pedestrian crossing will be installed at the Albany/Clyde intersection over to the Information Science Annex Building, making walking to and from school just that little bit easier. They’re also getting two new trees at the Albany intersection. Just fantastic.
Albany Street – From Clyde Street (University Car Park) to Anzac Avenue (The UniPol Road)
This stretch of Albany is large, and will undergo several changes.
The thirteen unrestricted parks outside of the University parking lot will be removed. Opposite across the road, three unrestricted parks will be removed, with the remaining parks converted into ten paid P240s. All parks outside of the Greggs factory along Albany will be removed.
Outside Te Rangihīroa, the bus stop and P30s will be removed and eleven paid P240 parks will be installed. All the parks that were along Albany Street (Riego Street side) right before the exit on to Anzac Ave will also be removed (a total of five unrestricted parks and one P30). Across the road, four unrestricted parks will be converted to paid P240s, and three unrestricted parks will be removed to allow for improvements related to the installation of a nearby raised pedestrian crossing. This construction is already underway.
Riego Street – The Jurassic Park Flat Street, Near The Polytech and Greggs Factory (RIP)
Riego Street is a bit of a hidden gem, but the DCC knows these roads like the back of their hands. No unrestricted parking space is safe in the name of ASCP! Just kidding – Riego Street keeps sixteen unrestricted space, thanks to an additional seven parks being installed. Don’t say the DCC gives you nothing.
Of the remaining parks, two will become P30s, fifteen P120s. And they’re all absolutely free! That’s good. They’ll also get a brand spanking new accessibility park, and a raised pedestrian crossing right outside the start of the street across Albany to the far side of Te Rangihīroa. Riego will also eventually become a one-way, exit only on to Anzac Ave.
Forth Street – Te Rangihīroa Side
Christmas has come early for this section of Forth Street, and what has Santa brought? A no entry from Albany Street! Much better than coal.
This section of Forth will convert three parks into P5s and install a turning circle just before the exit to allow two-way traffic back down Forth toward Frederick Street. A raised pedestrian crossing will be installed (yes – another one) connecting the Te Rangihīroa entrance to the old Greggs factory so freshers can marvel at it in all of its defunct glory.
Residential Parking Permits
While a DCC spokesperson has clarified to Critic that they have “no plans” currently to review existing arrangements for resident parking permits, “there remains a large amount of free and unrestricted parking available in the area.” You can find a full map of places to park at https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/parking/regulation.
Some residents in the residential zone around the University may also already be eligible for a Resident Parking Permit. You can find more information about that at https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/parking/parking-permits/residents-parking.
You can view the full ASCP plans on the DCC website.
