Here at One Network Wellington Live, we’re diving into a right mess that’s got drivers fuming—the Oriental Parade and Cable Street intersection. It’s a shambles of planning by Wellington City Council (WCC), and the feedback from drivers is loud and clear: this is a traffic jam nightmare. So, what’s going wrong, and what can be done about it? Let’s break it down, including every bit of the chaos you’ve told us about.

The Chaos Unveiled

Picture this: you’re driving along Oriental Parade, trying to turn right into Wakefield Street, and it’s bedlam. Inconsiderate cars from Oriental at the Cable Street intersection are trying to get into the right-hand lane to turn right into Wakefield. Instead of following the rules, they move into the middle of the intersection, blocking Cable Street traffic on a green light. The result? Traffic backed up Cable Street, horns blaring, and tempers flaring. That intersection needs a realignment and enforcement—drivers are at their wits’ end.

The intersection doesn’t cope with the traffic volume, full stop. It’s a choke point that’s been ignored for too long. Add in the works on Wakefield Street, and it’s like pouring petrol on a fire—things just don’t move. Then there’s the slip lane outside 58-60 Oriental Parade, nabbed for a cycleway. Fair enough for bikes, but it’s squeezed the road for cars, making the snarl-up even worse.

Drivers Behaving Badly

It gets messier. Drivers on the inside lane of Oriental Parade try to cross over to the right to get through to Wakefield. Some wait for space, but others? They just block the intersection instead of holding back, so Cable Street traffic gets stuck. It’s selfish driving, sure, but the layout’s not helping. There’s no room to manoeuvre, no clear path to keep things flowing.

Then you’ve got cars from Oriental Parade competing with Cambridge Terrace drivers to get into New World. It’s a scrum, and there’s not enough space. Some reckon we need an extra lane—get rid of some trees and widen the road. Controversial? Maybe, but when you’re stuck in gridlock with groceries melting, you’d consider anything.

Feedback from the Frontline

Drivers aren’t shy about their gripes. “It’s a bloody nightmare,” one bloke told us, stuck on Cable Street as Oriental drivers hogged the intersection. Another said, “The council’s lost the plot—where’s the enforcement?” Busy times turn into a free-for-all, and what’s required, they say, is some enforcement at peak hours and a complete redesign. Oh, and did we fail to mention the Fire Brigade? Emergency vehicles get caught in this too, which is a worry no one wants.

The volume’s a killer—point one from the feedback. Point two: Wakefield works clogging things up. Point three: that slip lane’s gone, and it’s hurt more than it’s helped. Point four: drivers blocking the intersection instead of waiting. Point five: the New World scramble needs sorting. Point seven (we’ll skip six, as it’s missing): enforcement and a redesign are musts. It’s a laundry list of woes, and Wellingtonians are fed up.

What’s Behind the Shambles?

So, how did it get this bad? WCC’s planning’s taken some flak here. The intersection’s been tinkered with over the years—cycleways added, lanes shifted—but it’s not kept pace with traffic growth. The Oriental Parade bike path, finished ages back, pinched that slip lane to make way for two-way cycling from Herd Street to Freyberg Pool. It’s safer for bikes, but cars got the short end of the stick. Meanwhile, Wakefield Street’s roadworks—part of ongoing city upgrades—keep squeezing the flow.

Back in 2023, WCC proposed a shared path at Cable and Oriental under Traffic Resolution TR60-23. It aimed to link the Oriental Parade bike lane with Cable Street, but drivers reckon it’s made things trickier. The council’s Paneke Pōneke bike network plan, greenlit in 2021 with $226 million, prioritised cycling—great for emissions, less so for cars stuck in queues. And with Let’s Get Wellington Moving still mulling mass transit, the road layout’s in limbo, leaving intersections like this to fester.

A Video Says It All

We’ve got our hands on a video—fresh from a driver’s dashcam—and it’s grim. You see cars from Oriental Parade nosing into the intersection, blocking Cable Street’s green light. Traffic backs up fast, stretching down Cable like a car park. One driver even swings across two lanes to nab the Wakefield turn, leaving everyone else stranded. It’s not just bad manners; the design’s begging for it. The video’s a wake-up call—Wellington can’t ignore this any longer.

What’s Needed?

Drivers are shouting for action, and it’s hard to argue. Enforcement’s a start—stick some traffic cops or cameras at busy times to stop the intersection blockers. Fines might make folk think twice. But that’s a plaster on a broken leg. A complete redesign’s the real fix. Could they add a dedicated right-turn lane from Oriental to Wakefield? Maybe tweak the lights so Cable Street gets a fair go? Widening the road by cutting trees is on the table, though it’ll spark a row with the green lot.

The New World mess needs sorting too. An extra lane there could ease the Cambridge Terrace clash, but space is tight—those trees might have to go. And the Fire Brigade? If they’re delayed, it’s not just annoying—it’s dangerous. A redesign has to factor them in, maybe with a priority signal.

Can WCC Step Up?

Matt Prosser, WCC’s new chief exec as of April 2025, is walking into this mess. He’s got form from Dorset, sorting traffic and budgets, but Wellington’s a different beast. The council’s copped heat for slow fixes—water pipes burst faster than they rethink roads. Feedback’s been fed in before; the 2018 Oriental Bay cycleway consultation saw locals push for parking over bike lanes, yet cycling won out. Drivers feel ignored, and this intersection’s proof.

Still, there’s hope. WCC’s got cash for transport—$226 million over a decade—and they’ve redone tricky spots like The Parade in Island Bay. Oriental and Cable could be next if the will’s there. Drivers want enforcement now, not in 10 years when transit might (or might not) arrive. Prosser’s got a chance to prove he’s not just another suit—get out there, watch the chaos, and act.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about one intersection. Wellington’s growing—Newtown’s a 10-minute ride away, and the 2021 Spatial Plan’s packing more people in. Roads can’t cope if they stay stuck in the past. The 30km/h speed limit push from 2023’s already got drivers grumbling about slower trips, and cycleways keep nicking lanes. It’s a balancing act—bikes, cars, buses, and now fire trucks—but right now, it’s tipping into chaos.

The video’s a stark reminder: Oriental at Cable’s a symptom of bigger woes. Traffic jams here ripple out, clogging Kent and Cambridge Terraces, stalling the CBD. Wakefield’s works won’t last forever, but while they’re on, it’s a perfect storm. Drivers aren’t asking for miracles—just a road that works.

Your Say, Wellington

We’re One Network Wellington Live, and we’re here for you. This intersection’s a shambles of planning by WCC, and the traffic jam nightmare’s real. Inconsiderate cars, a pinched slip lane, and a design that can’t hack the volume—it’s a mess. Enforcement and a redesign are what’s required, drivers reckon, and they’re not wrong. Oh, and did we fail to mention the Fire Brigade? They’re in this too.

So, what do you think? Stuck at Oriental and Cable lately? Seen the madness firsthand? Drop us your feedback—we’ll keep pushing WCC to listen. This city’s ours, and it’s time they fixed it.