Bunnythorpe road extension to ease commuter traffic

Extending a road at Bunnythorpe could help ease increasing commuter traffic congestion between Feilding and Palmerston North.

The Manawatu¯ District Council wants Waughs Rd extended to dramatically reduce heavy weekday commuter traffic on Campbell Rd going over the railway tracks in Bunnythorpe. The change would also cut out awkward intersections for commuter traffic.

The Campbell Rd route is used by some motorists travelling between Palmerston North and Feilding, but there are unusual roading arrangements to negotiate in Bunnythorpe, including a roundabout that drivers typically go over, instead of around.

The council made a submission to Horizons Regional Council’s review this year of the regional land transport plan 2015-25. The idea is to extend Waughs Rd and link it with Railway Rd, which provides one of the entrances to Palmerston North.

Bunnythorpe volunteer firefighter Wayne Spearpoint said it would be good to have less traffic heading from Campbell Rd to Railway Rd, but this wouldn’t stop drivers ignoring give way rules at the roundabout.

The roundabout, where Campbell Rd meets Dixons Line, was usually driven over rather than around, and people sometimes didn’t give way to traffic coming from Dixons Line, Spearpoint said.

‘‘You can put as many roads in as you like. It really doesn’t solve the problem.’’

Bunnythorpe residents might still be left waiting at Dixons Line, he said.

Raising the height of the roundabout and enforcing give way rules would help Bunnythorpe residents more, Spearpoint said.

Traffic has been increasing between Palmerston North and Feilding. Figures from the Manawatu¯ District Council show at least 730 more vehicles every day are using the intersection at Camerons Line and Waughs Rd, which is closer to Feilding, compared with about 10 years ago.

The average annual daily traffic numbers in 2007 were 5863 and this climbed to 6595 in 2016. Figures for 2017 were not available.

The land transport plan also includes adding a cycleway and walkway on Waughs Rd.