The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is looking at
reducing the speed limit on State Highway 1 near the entrance
to Waitati township, after years of concern from locals that
the area is unsafe.
Waikouaiti Coast community board chairman Gerard Collings
said an NZTA representative told the board at a meeting last
week they were looking at reducing the speed at the bend and
plans would be finalised in time for the next board meeting.
NZTA had indicated that a reduction in speed from 100kmh to
80kmh was likely and the change could happen in the next six
months.
The plan comes after many years of concern from locals about
the safety on the bend at the turnoff to Waitati township, Mr
Collings said.
"There has been a number of incidents over the last couple of
years and quite a few near misses," he said.
The location of the Blueskin General Store, the speed of the
traffic and the sight lines all made the bend unsafe, he
said.
There was a project in the NZTA programme to realign the
bend, but as that had not been successful in attracting
funding, a reduction in speed would be welcome in the
meantime.
NZTA Otago-Southland state highways manager Ian Duncan
confirmed a review of the speed limit at the site was under
way.
"This has been prompted by a desire to look at ways of
reducing the risk of speed related crashes at the Waitati
Corner on State Highway 1.
"There is a strict process to be followed around speed limit
setting and a final decision on whether the speed limit at
this corner is lowered or not could be another two months
away," Mr Duncan said.
The Dunedin City Council has decided to install chevron
warning signs at an intersection on the corner of Thomas and
Scotia Sts and Scotia and Geelong Sts in Waikouaiti, after
police expressed concern following a crash where a driver
went straight through a corner.
vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz
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