Roundabout mooted for risky intersection

Site of a new roundabout? Photo: Google Maps
Site of a new roundabout? Photo: Google Maps
Another accident-prone Dunedin intersection could have a roundabout installed to help improve safety.

The Dunedin City Council wants to install a small roundabout at the intersection of Manor Pl and Melville St.

It also wants to add 26 parking spaces in Manor Pl at the same time.

Public consultation on the plans is now open.

The council's transportation safety team leader, Hjarne Poulsen, said the roundabout would improve safety and traffic flow.

Between 2003 and 2009, six crashes were recorded at the intersection.

Roundabouts, which would be painted on the road, were generally safer for drivers and pedestrians crossing near the intersection, Mr Poulsen said.

"This is a simple way to slow all traffic coming into the intersection, rather than allowing one direction to travel straight through."

Although the painted roundabouts were smaller than the usual raised ones, the same road rules applied, he said.

Painted roundabouts have been installed in other areas of the city, such as at the intersection of Shetland and Nairn Sts in Kaikorai Valley and Carnforth, Boomer and Neill Sts in Green Island.

An array of rubber speed humps are used instead of them being raised, so larger vehicles can cross over them when turning.

An additional 26 parking spaces will be created in Manor Pl by converting the parallel parks on one side of the street to angle parks.

Kerbs would be extended to create the angle parks, slow down traffic and make crossing the road easier for pedestrians.

These would be marked with paint and permanent kerbs could be built later.

Consultation on the plan closes at 5pm on Friday, November 30.

Comments

Risky? yes. How ever if you read into it, the roundabout is being placed because the addition of the 26 angle car parks on a narrow street will make it even more of a challenge to drive through.

 

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