Bridge visibility dilemma
New technology may help make one-lane bridges safer in South Taranaki.
South Taranaki District Council’s roading manager Vincent Lim said his department was researching new flashing road signs and their cost and reliability, for potential use on the district’s one lane bridges.
‘‘We are currently investigating putting ‘flashing’ signs at all one-lane bridges in the district and we will be approaching the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), to seek approval to trial these non-standard signs,’’ he said.
He said any trial with nonstandard signs would first need to be approved by the New Zealand Road Transport Authority.
If the signs proved to be reliable and affordable, he planned to approach the authority. South Taranaki would be the first district to trial the signs if it gained approval.
The idea came in response to comments about visibility problems on a one-lane bridge on Ohangai Rd where an accident happened recently.
Jim Egan of Hawera said there was a blind spot right where cars from one side approached.
His car was damaged in a headon collision, leaving him without transport for two weeks.
A passerby had used his vehicle to tow the two cars off the bridge and others called the police, he said.
‘‘While I was waiting I stood on the road (on the Hawera side) where the cars wait - and I realised you couldn’t see the oncoming car,’’ he said.
He is thankful nobody was hurt, but fears other accidents might happen.
The council was aware there was some visual impairment at this bridge, said Lim.
‘‘We have already taken steps to minimise the risk of accidents, including additional signage and advance warning markings on the road to warn users of the upcoming one lane bridge.
‘‘The blind spot that can obscure an oncoming vehicle does so for a maximum of two seconds and as long as drivers are following the road rules any driver should be able to sight oncoming vehicles and have plenty of distance to stop safely should they need to.’’
Since 1980 there have been four reported accidents at the bridge; two involved one vehicle and two involved two-cars.