Changes improve drive times
RECENT roading developments have cut the driving time between the BP roundabout on State Highway 6 and Queenstown Airport by up to 17 minutes.
Last month the first stage of the Hawthorne Dr extension — linking Remarkables Park to Glenda Dr around the back of Queenstown Airport — was officially opened to the public.
Simultaneously, Queenstown Airport launched its parkandride facilities on Frankton Flats and vehicles were banned from parking on either side of State Highway 6 between the BP roundabout and the Kawarau Falls bridge. The stretch is being policed by a dedicated parking officer.
The NZ Transport Agency also opened a merging lane for Queenstownbound traffic at the BP roundabout to improve traffic flow.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said figures showed the changes immediately improved drive times between the BP roundabout and the airport — most notably during afternoon peak travel times.
The council supplied figures stating the average travel time on that stretch of road was now three minutes — a time saving of between seven and 17 minutes.
That figure was provided by BlipTrack data — a system both the council and NZTA has invested in, which uses sensors to collect anonymous data.
It works by detecting motorists driving with a Bluetooth or WiFi device, such as a handsfree system or cellphone.
When a vehicle with an activated device passes the sensors — installed at different locations in the resort’s roading network — its anonymous ID is recorded, encrypted and timestamped.
When the data is combined and analysed it provides an accurate picture of each road user, including their travel times and movement patterns, and can be used to warn of queues and delays, identify problem areas and calibrate traffic signals.
Mr Boult said the roading link had been a ‘‘long time in the making’’ and it was pleasing to see it make an immediate difference to road users.
‘‘This is a step in the right direction and shows the impact rightsizing our infrastructure can have on the daytoday life in Queenstown,’’ Mr Boult said.
The parkandride facility, developed in partnership with the Queenstown Airport Corporation and the council, had also been well used.
QAC chief executive Colin Keel said there was space for 150 cars at present, but this was set to double to 300 when construction of the second stage of the Hawthorne Dr extension was completed in December.
‘‘We’ve had over 344 people use the facility since it opened on June 22 and the most we’ve had at one time was 147 vehicles in one day, last weekend.’’
NZTA regional relationships director Jim harland said the projects were part of a wider transport improvement programme for the Wakatipu involving the airport company, council, Otago Regional Council and the transport agency.
More projects in the programme would come on stream by the end of this year to get traffic moving even more efficiently in the basin.
They included a new subsidised public transport service, enabling everyone to travel for a flat $2 fare with GoCard.
Earlier this month the Otago Daily Times reported the new $22 million twolane Kawarau Bridge would not be completed until the end of March next year.
However, a twolane option would be available for this ChristmasNew Year period, whereby traffic would use the old bridge and one lane of the new bridge to avoid the traditional traffic bottleneck.
Mr Boult said while there was still ‘‘a great deal’’ to be done, the momentum was beginning to shift in the district’s favour.
❛ This . . . shows the impact rightsizing our infrastructure can have on the daytoday life in
Queenstown❜