A Clutha Valley intersection with a history of crashes, including at least one recent fatality, will have a series of safety improvements made over the next few months, pleasing locals who have demanded changes to the corner for many years.
The Clutha District Council is next week expected to approve relocating speed signs, installing a flashing warning sign and changing give-way signs to stop signs at the Allangrange Rd-Clutha Valley Rd intersection.
Its move closely follows calls last month by coroner David Crerar, who, at an inquest into the death of an Ettrick driver at the intersection in September 2008, assured local residents improvements would be made to the corner.
A temporary traffic island, flashing warning signs at the school, replacing give-way with stop signs and relocating speed signs are all designed to make the intersection safer.
The changes come after the death of Ettrick man Frank Leon Crooks (61), who was killed after failing to give way at the intersection.
His vehicle was hit by another travelling on Clutha Valley Rd.
The intersection, 28km west of Balclutha, is a major thoroughfare for traffic between South and Central Otago.
An engineering report prepared for the council said the main issue was that motorists were not recognising the intersection until very late on the Allangrange Rd approach after the Clydevale bridge.
"Therefore, the focus of the intersection improvements is to make the intersection more prominent to motorists east-bound on Allangrange Rd and reduce driver distraction by changing sign locations."
Council district assets manager Jules Witt said the minor safety project was unanimously approved at last week's district assets committee and will go to the full council next week.
The improvements, once confirmed, will be carried out this financial year.
