Road reopening revisited

Lisa Wheeler hs (Small).JPG
Lisa Wheeler hs (Small).JPG
The debate over Dunedin's scenic John Wilson Ocean Dr is to resume, with councillors considering an $88,000 plan to open the coastal road to vehicles for a few hours most week days.

If the proposal is approved, vehicles will be allowed back on the road between 11am and 2pm daily, except on weekends and public holidays, after $88,777 has been spent on speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures.

The aim was to promote the area beyond the existing bollards as a pedestrian precinct, but with limited vehicle access, a report by council parks manager Lisa Wheeler said.

The report is the latest twist in the long-running saga over the future of the road, which has been closed to vehicles almost continuously since construction of the Tahuna outfall pipe began in the area in 2006.

Debate has raged since, with councillors earlier this year approving, then later removing, $487,519 needed to upgrade and reopen the road to vehicles from the 2011-12 draft annual plan.

This seemed to remove the possibility of driving to the Lawyers Head lookout, but a last-minute about-face, led by Cr Bill Acklin, resulted in councillors voting in June to reconsider their options.

The matter was referred back to the community development committee for more work, prompting Mrs Wheeler's report.

The report will be considered by the committee on Wednesday.

Most councillors had already attended a workshop in October to discuss plans for the road, and had showed "goodwill" to reach an agreement allowing vehicle access with traffic-calming measures and a reduced speed limit, Ms Wheeler's report said.

The recommended option included narrow (3m-wide) traffic lanes for vehicles beside the inland side of the drive, and 17 speed bumps installed at 80m spacings the length of the drive.

Edge marker posts would be added along the shared path, together with new signs, and a lower 30kmh speed limit considered at the next speed limit review in 2013.

An option to build a sealed footpath along the drive's entire length, allowing vehicle access during daylight hours each day, was considered but not recommended, with required funding of $260,000 not budgeted for.

Mrs Wheeler's report noted the recommended option would allow "predominant" pedestrian access alongside controlled vehicle access, but "the full unrestricted pedestrian precinct area would not continue in its current form".

The improvements could be completed within existing budgets, but would provide no physical barrier between vehicles and pedestrians, the report said.

- chris.morris@odt.co.nz

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement