Approval given to plan for new pedestrian crossing

May 7th, 2013

Motueka will get a pedestrian crossing of High Street between New World and The Warehouse, although we will have to wait until funds are found to build the two mid-street traffic islands with hand rails.

The Nelson Mail reported yesterday that the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) had announced its preferred solution - a pedestrian refuge made up of two traffic islands with hand rails, to provide pedestrians with a safe place to wait between traffic lanes.

The NZTA is responsible for High Street, as it is a state highway. The crossing islands would mean that "people only need to negotiate one stream of traffic at a time".

"This will make a big difference, because on a busy highway you can wait a long time for gaps in traffic in both directions", NZTA central operations manager Mark Owen told the paper.

He said a zebra crossing was considered, as were traffic signals, but the number of accessways and turning bays to and from retailers along that stretch of road meant "they could in fact make crossing less safe."

Read the full Nelson Mail article here.

Comment by Phillip Grimmett:
[Posted 13 May 2013]

It's good that some action is finally due on the Warehouse crossing, but disappointing that the Government Agency NZTA has blackmailed local ratepayers into picking up $15000 of the cost. It seems that the Government's responsibility for its state highways ends when it comes to the safety of Motueka residents. Billions can be found for large Auckland highways.

It's not sensible or fair, and we deserve better from our Local MP. Unfortunately, my elderly mother will not benefit from this crossing when it does eventuate. It's been a concern for at least 5 years.

The ratepayers are paying thrice over for this obvious necessity. This is mean and miserly, and does not reflect well on our national decision makers.

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