Council dismisses intersection concern

ONGOING concerns about plans to fix a troublesome South Dunedin intersection have been dismissed by the Dunedin City Council.

South Dunedin resident Wayne White contacted the Otago Daily Times on Thursday, concerned the council’s plan to fix the intersection of Tedder and Market Sts did not go far enough.

The intersection had been the scene of a series of highprofile crashes since the giveway priority was changed last year to accommodate the rollout of the South Dunedin cycle network.

The council confirmed this week work had begun to fix the intersection’s layout, including returning the giveway priority to Market St and reducing the size of kerb protrusions to help traffic negotiate the corners.

That was not good enough for Mr White, who said the reduced kerb protrusions would still create problems for cornering vehicles, forcing them into the path of oncoming traffic.

‘‘They’re only taking the roundness off it. They’re not putting it back the way it was.

‘‘You’re still going to have a problem there . . . to me, it’s just bloody brainless.’’

Council acting transport group manager Richard Saunders confirmed the kerb protrusions were being reduced, not removed completely, but would allow cars to turn ‘‘within their own lane’’.

‘‘The design follows the appropriate standards for vehicle movements and is something we consider for all intersections.

‘‘We are retaining a portion of the kerb protrusions to ensure low turning speeds and a safer operation of the intersection,’’ he said.

The work is expected to take one month and cost $63,500.