Underpasses concern AA

Graeme Dodd
Graeme Dodd
Delegates at a recent national New Zealand Automobile Association conference were "appalled" at the condition of stock underpasses in the Waitaki district, North Otago AA district chairman Graeme Dodd says.

A presentation, made by the North Otago AA at the conference in the Bay of Islands, was repeated yesterday at the Waitaki District Council's assets committee meeting.

The branch was concerned about safety, particularly the position of some under-passes, the maintenance of the road surface, erection or non-erection of barriers and the varying standards, Mr Dodd said.

There had been a large number of dairy conversions in the district over the past few years and the issue of safety and underpasses came to light several years ago, he said.

He understood underpasses had to be signed off after completion but there appeared to be no time limit as some had been in the same state for 18 months and there appeared to be no follow-up.

An AA councillor inspected 35 underpasses and found five built to what the branch considered acceptable standards. Mr Dodd asked the council to progress the issue urgently.

The council's assets group manager, Neil Jorgensen, said the council was aware of the issues and roading staff were looking at addressing them.

 

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