Green Island traffic plan picks up pace

Greater Green Island Community Network are seeking community input for a draft plan on Green...
Greater Green Island Community Network are seeking community input for a draft plan on Green Island roads, intersections, traffic, bus stops, pedestrian safety, and more. Photo: Brenda Harwood

A plan to improve traffic flow, intersections, parking, pedestrian safety and bus stops is being developed in Green Island, with community input.

Traffic and pedestrian safety issues were highlighted in responses to May’s householdsurvey by the Greater Green Island Community Network.

The survey showed 30% ofresidents were concerned about vehicles dominating public spaces and streets, 21% were concerned about the amount of traffic and 21% were concerned about pedestrian safety.

More recently, there has been discussion about the motorway on- and off-ramps at Green Island, and the intersection of Main South Rd and Brighton Rd, with many
residents calling for roundabouts to be installed.

Greater Green Island believes the time has come for a comprehensive plan, with the recent development of the new Moyles Fresh Choice supermarket, the Z petrol station, the Sunnyvale Sports Centre, a growing population and the rise in traffic volumes.

Greater Green Island community workers Amanda Reid and Leanne Stenhouse have been meeting  Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council representatives to discuss the issues and are now working on a comprehensive draft design for improvements.

The community is being invited to be involved in the process through two public sessions, to be held in the  Civic Hall on November 21, from 10am to noon, and from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

People are also welcome to give their feedback individually.

‘‘It’s all about getting as much information as we can, and getting agreement on what the community does want, so we can then present that to the councils and NZTA,’’ Mrs Reid said.

Mrs Stenhouse said having one plan  encompassing the whole of Green Island’s main street, and the shopping area, was vital to meeting the community’s needs.

Among the subjects for discussion would be plans to move bus stops and install a ‘‘super stop’’ at the Green Island Memorial Gardens, the positioning of  pedestrian
crossings, changing parking times, and intersections.

‘‘It will all be included in the plan,’’ she said. 

The idea had been welcomed by the DCC and ORC, who were keen to get the ‘‘full picture’’ before embarking on 9construction work in the area.

DCC transportation safety team leader Hjarne Poulsen has been involved in discussions with the network.

‘‘We have listened to them, have looked at some of the intersections, and have done some preliminary work,’’ he said.

Traffic counts had also been done in the area and showed the average daily  number of vehicles on Brighton Rd, near the landfill, was 8100, and 8600 on Main South Rd.

He said the approach of the community network, to gather feedback and create a concept, was ‘‘very helpful’’.

‘‘It helps us a lot if that concept work has been done, and it is what the community wants, then we can put engineering eyes on it and make sure it will work.’’

The Otago Regional Council operates bus services to and from Green Island. Council support services manager Gerard Collings welcomed the community feedback and thanked the network for its ‘‘collaborative approach’’.

‘‘We are working closely with the network and the DCC to create an integrated outcome in Green Island.’’

The design of the ‘‘super stop’’ bus hub adjacent to the memorial gardens would be similar to that of the centre city hub, which was in development, Mr Collings said.

BRENDA HARWOOD @thestar.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement