Speedy start to road works leaves four-way stops behind

Several innovations made to streets in Nelson South jumped the gun before getting official council approval, making them technically unenforceable by police for several months.

In December, a major layout change was made in Nelson South, as part of the Nelson Innovative Streets project – which is currently undergoing a 12-month trial.

The changes included the installation of two four-way stops at the intersection of Kawai/ Tukuka St and Tipahi/Tukuka St.

The four-way stops formed a crucial part of the project’s goals, namely to slow vehicle speeds, reduce traffic volumes and improve safety.

However, while the stops were installed in December, they had not been approved for inclusion into the council’s bylaw schedules.

This meant the new set-up was technically not authorised, and the new layout was not able to be enforced by police.

The issue was eventually addressed at a hearings panel on Wednesday, where the amendments to the bylaw were passed and the signs given retrospective approval.

Initially brought before the panel in March, the matter had been stood down by hearing panel chairwoman Councillor Gaile

Noonan in order to get more information about what had happened.

Noonan said she did not know why the bylaw changes had not been approved before the stop signs had been set up, or why it had taken so long to clear up.

‘‘I just wanted to make sure the process was robust.

‘‘The signs were there, but the police couldn’t do anything about them.’’

Nelson City Council manager for transport Marg Parfitt said it was not unusual for some safetyrelated changes to the transport network to be made, with approval for the bylaws coming later as meeting schedules allowed.

Provided for through Waka Kotahi NZTA’s Innovating Streets Fund, the 12-month trial in Nelson South had come about in response to members of the community who were concerned the road was being used as a ‘‘rat run’’ by commuters wanting to avoid traffic on Waimea Rd.