Changes to intersection at Moturoa shops
Both the serious and minor injury crashes involved pedestrians.
A confusing Moturoa intersection will soon undergo safety improvements.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) are investigating options for minor safety upgrades of the Lawry St, South Rd and State Highway 44 intersection, alongside the Salty Dog bar.
Construction is due to begin this summer and could result in the removal of up to 15 kerbside parking spaces at the Moturoa shops in New Plymouth, a report recently released by the agency stated.
The project area extends to SH44 - the key freight route connecting the Port to the wider Taranaki and beyond - outside the shopping spot, with a focus on the pedestrian crossing.
‘‘The zebra crossing has restricted visibility between pedestrians on the crossing and drivers on SH44,’’ the report detailed.
‘‘This is as a result of vehicles parked in kerbside parking spaces as well as the curve of SH44.’’
Depending on the selected option, the changes could see up to 15 car parks removed from the area or as few as one.
The intention of the upgrade was to better clarify local road connections to SH44, conserve or improve the role of the Moturoa shops and to improve road safety for all users.
In the past five years there has been one serious, one minor, and 10 non-injury crashes reported in the project area. Both the serious and minor injury crashes involved pedestrians.
The report, put together for community consultation on the options, said the intersection was ‘‘unclear and difficult to use.’’
The Government body proposed six options for the public to consider and welcomed its feedback.
Following the selection process NZTA would work with key stakeholders and partners, such as the New Plymouth District Council, on the best way forward, the report said. Option A1:
This would introduce a half roundabout intersection, with no right turn bay on to SH44. The pedestrian crossing would remain but the left turn slip lane from the highway to Lawry St would be removed. A total of eight to 15 carparks would be taken out.
Option B1:
This includes ‘‘accessible and easy-to-use’’ pedestrian refuges on Lawry St and South Rd. The zebra crossing would stay but the crossing distance would be shortened. Again, the left turn lane from SH44 to Lawry St would be removed as would three parking spaces.
Option C1:
A signalised pedestrian crossing on SH44 and the left turn lane from the highway to Lawry St would be removed, with only one kerbside carpark being removed. The report said there was potential for options A1 and B1 to be combined with C1.
Option D2:
A traffic signalled intersection with a right turn bay would be added with the zebra crossing removed in favour of a signalised crossing and the left turn slip lane removed.
Option D3:
This would be the same as D2 except the left turn lane would remain. Both options would see between 11 to 13 car spaces removed.
Option E1:
A proposed a reduction in the speed limit to either 30kmh or 40kmh between the gateway sails, and on Lawry St and South Rd about 100-metres from the intersection. However, this was would be introduced alongside one of the other options.