Traffic lights cannot come to central Queenstown soon enough for David Palmer.
The local council announced on Tuesday lights would be installed at two Stanley St intersections early next year.
Mr Palmer's young grandson, Kenn Ishi-Palmer (8), sustained a broken leg when he was run over on a pedestrian crossing at one those intersections in July. He is still recovering.
Mr Palmer lobbied Mayor Vanessa van Uden and the NZ Transport Agency over pedestrian safety.
Mr Palmer said: ''I think it's an excellent move and the sooner the better. It's a very, very dangerous situation. Everyone we talk to says so.
''I went there a few days after the accident to take photos and saw another child almost hit in the same way.''
Mr Palmer said there were no legal threats, just communication and his measured pleas.
''I wrote what I thought was a pretty convincing letter. I think they knew I wasn't going to let it go.''
The agency had also been good, he said.
''We've spent quite a bit of time talking about the options.''
He understood the reluctance to have traffic lights installed at the crossing, by the mini-roundabout with Ballarat St, but said it was the only practical solution because if the crossing were moved, people would still cross at the original place.
Lights will also be installed at the Stanley St and Shotover St junction. They will cost less than $600,000 in total and should be operational by April. After the accident, Kenn spent seven weeks in a plaster cast so heavy he was unable to walk. But he is on the mend.
''Kenn's pretty well recovered. He's in good shape,'' Mr Palmer said.
''He's still got a bit of physiotherapy going on but give it a few months and he'll be totally back to normal running around.''
Safety patrols will be stationed at the crossing over the holidays.
- by Paul Taylor
