Bus routes altered and temporary roundabout
BUS routes are being rejigged, and a temporary roundabout will be installed, to try to ease mounting traffic congestion around the Dundas St bridge in North Dunedin.
The bridge in the central university area was closed earlier this month, to allow floodprotection work linked to the final stage of the Otago Regional Council’s Leith flood protection scheme.
The bridge was expected to remain closed to vehicles and pedestrian traffic until August, and is already fuelling frustration as motorists are forced into increasingly clogged streets surrounding the work site.
ORC engineering, hazards and science director Gavin Palmer said the ORC and Dunedin City Council were working together to try to reduce congestion in the area.
‘‘The last thing either council wants is to see any accidents or pedestrians being at risk of injury.’’
The problems were being exacerbated by large numbers of roadwork and construction pro jects in the area, including the bridge work, and also the return of university and polytech students.
As a result, a trial roundabout — involving painted markings on the road — would be added at the ClydeAlbany St intersection next week, weather permitting.
Two bus services — the No 14 (city to Port Chalmers) and No 63 (BalaclavacityLogan Park) were also being diverted along Albany St to and from Anzac Ave, to avoid Clyde St and Union St East, he said.
The DCC had added two temporary bus stops on Albany St, near the Uniprint building, for the redirected services, he said.
‘‘We will continue to work with DCC to monitor and look at ways we can protect the community from harm and ease congestion in this area,’’ he said.
Both councils were also considering the best ways to inform people about the bridge closure and detours before the Eagles concert at the nearby Forsyth Barr Stadium on March 2.
‘‘But for safety reasons we cannot reopen the bridge while works are incomplete.’’