Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work to make Motueka’s High Street safer for everyone resumes today.
Crews will be back out on the road to finish installing traffic signals at the intersection of Pah/Greenwood and High Streets, and to begin work on the pedestrian signals on High Street north of Wallace Street at the existing zebra crossing. A right-hand turn bay into Wallace Street will also be installed. These works are expected to be completed by the end of November this year.
In accordance with Government guidance, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency paused the safety improvements at Alert Level 4. Work is beginning again under Alert Level 3, while adhering to strict health and safety protocols.
Working around the busy summer holiday period
COVID-19 has had an impact on the project’s timeframes, with improvements to the Tudor and High Street intersection now likely to get underway from mid-February 2022, with completion expected by April 2022.
Safety improvements to the busy King Edward St, Old Wharf Rd and High St intersection are on track to start on Monday, 13 September.
The raised roundabout will include four pedestrian zebra crossings on each approach to allow people to safely cross the road.
“The raised roundabout will improve safety for everyone using the road, encouraging safer speeds and helping ensure people walking or cycling across the intersection are more visible,” says Emma Speight, Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships.
The Principal of St Peter Chanel School, Margaret Campbell-McCauley, is looking forward to a safer intersection for their school children.
“It is a great relief for us all that the safety issues for children in crossing this end of High St are being addressed. Children are impulsive and drivers can be impatient and often distracted, which is a deadly mix. To have a safe way for children and adults to cross so they can reach their school, shops, and the recreation centre is much needed,” she says.
The first stage of roundabout construction.
The detour route for the first stage of construction.
How the roundabout will look with pedestrian crossings in place, once completed.
The roundabout is expected to be completed before Christmas, with some work on the footpaths and landscaping at the intersection expected to be finished in early 2022.
A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place during this work. High Street will remain open for much of the work, with some night works and detours in place. Further information about these works will be shared with the community closer to the time.
This work is part of the SH60 High Street safety improvements, which have received $6.8 million as part of the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
For further information or to contact someone about the works, please:
SH60 Motueka safety improvements project page
Further information
Construction stages
Pah/Greenwood and High Street traffic signals and High Street north of Wallace Street pedestrian signals
Work at these sites will is underway again in Alert Level 3 and expected to be completed by the end of November 2021.
The majority of the work will be happening during the day, with some night works planned from mid-September around the Wallace Street site.
Tudor and High Street intersection – traffic signals
Covid-19 has had a small impact on the project’s timeframes, with traffic signals for the Tudor and High Street intersection now likely to get underway from mid-February 2022, with completion expected by April 2022.
King Edward Street, Old Wharf Road and High Street Roundabout
There are several stages of construction:
- Stage One Late Mid-September – 5 weeks
We will be building the eastern half of the roundabout, which means that the entry in and out of Old Wharf Road will be closed with a short detour in place up Huffam Street.
- Stage Two Mid October – 3 weeks
Stage two is working on the south western corner in front of the DOC building.
- Stage Three Early November – 3 weeks
Stage three is working on the north west corner in front of the clock tower.
- Asphalt and road marking, Late November – 4 weeks
Once the outside edges of the roundabout have been constructed, we will lay a new asphalt surface in sections. Most of this work will be completed at night to minimise disruption to people driving through.
- Footpath works, 2022 – 4 weeks
The footpath construction and landscaping around the intersection will start in December 2021 with final work completed in early 2022.
About the roundabout and its safety design
The whole King Edward Street and Old Wharf Road intersection (roundabout and zebra crossings) will be raised, with a gradual ramp onto and exiting the roundabout.
The raised roundabout encourages safer speeds and improves visibility of pedestrians and people on bikes. It is a treatment increasingly being used to improve safety through intersections and at pedestrian crossings.
The zebra crossings will be at the same level of the footpath, making it easier for people to navigate the intersection.
The zebra crossings will be set approximately six metres back from roundabout. There are three key safety reasons for this position:
- It ensures pedestrians are visible to people driving through the roundabout
- It ensures the crossing points are located where people would naturally cross the road, therefore reducing the likelihood of jaywalking, and
- It will mean vehicles will not have picked up speed while exiting the roundabout before reaching the zebra crossing.
Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:
