Survey brushes off bypass

committee, said this meant just 8 per cent of the 8600 drivers who drove past Riverlands, south of Blenheim, made it beyond town.

This meant people were turning off around Blenheim. Traffic counts in and around central Blenheim showed about 24,500 vehicles a day.

‘‘It’s clear that the volume of vehicles passing through Blenheim is a very small proportion of the traffic. Building a bypass would therefore not reduce traffic congestion because most of our traffic is local trips.’’

The survey, conducted last October, recommended an extra roundabout at the Budge St intersection with Sh1/grove Rd.

It also suggested removing some of the short-term parking along Grove Rd, and adding an extra northbound lane at the Alfred St intersection.

‘‘We [the council] recognise there is traffic congestion at peak times on Grove Rd and I’m pleased to see the report suggests a number of short-term improvements to some intersections that would help.’’

Highway traffic was going up about 1.9 per cent a year along SH1 – the region’s most popular highway – and about 6 per cent a year along state highways 62 and 63 – ranked the least busy.

The report would be presented to the council’s assets and services committee meeting tomorrow, before being referred to full council.

Councillor Jamie Arbuckle, who ran for mayor last year on a ‘‘build-a-bypass’’ campaign, said on Tuesday that although he was pleased the council had commissioned the review, the findings left him ‘‘disappointed’’.

‘‘There’s possibly been a lot of energy put into discrediting a bypass,’’ he said.

‘‘If a bypass isn’t the option, what is the option? I think a roundabout is not solving anyone’s problems.’’