Councillors ask ‘slow the (truck) down’
Three frustrated city councillors are urging drivers at a northern Hamilton intersection to slow the ‘‘truck’’ down.
The trio organised a black-andwhite billboard for Rototuna’s Thomas Rd and Gordonton Rd intersection as a stopgap measure - a variable speed limit around the road is expected to be in place in a couple of months. The sign reads, ‘‘Slow the _______ down’’, with the blank filled with a picture of a truck.
The T-junction in question connects a 50kmh zone (Thomas Rd) with an 80kmh rural thoroughfare (Gordonton Rd) and East Ward Councillors Mark Bunting and James Casson say they’re hearing about crashes or near misses every week.
They got frustrated with slow progress on a speed change and, with West Ward Cr Dave Macpherson, have piled on the pressure with a public message to motorists.
But council is working with the NZ Transport Agency on a plan involving sensors and electronic speed signs, which would to bring the speed down to 60kmh when there are turning cars.
People leaving the residential Thomas Rd often pull out into Gordonton Rd without realising cars are approaching at 80kmh, Bunting said.
‘‘It’s kind of a perfect storm ... They go into what they think is a 50kmh gap and it’s actually an 80kmh gap, and wham.
‘‘A lot of people are calling for roundabouts and traffic islands ... that’s huge money and huge time