Addition part traffic island, part safety hazard
It’s meant to be a traffic calming device. Instead, a concrete island plonked in the middle of a busy Lower Hutt road has enraged motorists.
The traffic island was installed in Parkway, Wainuiomata, last Friday as part of plans for a new housing development, and was approved by Hutt City Council.
But, for the moment, it appears merely to be an obstruction, forcing cars to swerve out of their lanes to avoid it.
Wainuiomata councillor Campbell Barry has blasted the traffic island as ‘‘a bit of an amateur mistake’’, while residents of the hillside suburb have voiced their anger on a community social media page.
‘‘I was close to hitting this on my motorcycle last night as it’s not visible enough when following other vehicles,’’ one said.
‘‘When I saw that on Friday, I immediately thought someone was gonna smoke that and have a crash or worse,’’ another added.
The road is normally a 60kmh zone, and runs alongside Wainuiomata High School. A 30kmh temporary speed limit is now in place.
Road markings will eventually be adjusted to mean the lane won’t contain the obstruction, but Barry said there was ‘‘no good reason’’ why the island was put there before the remarking was carried out.
The contractor, John Walsh Ltd, said it was simply following instructions. ‘‘We were given instructions, and carried out the plan accordingly,’’ company spokesman Vince Brady said.
‘‘I heard there’s been a bit of uproar ... but we had to put it where we were told to put it. I think it’s the council’s issue,’’ Brady added.
Barry said the plans approved by the council had clearly shown each lane was free from obstruction.
‘‘It will all make sense once it’s completed. It’s a stuff-up by them [the contractors], so now it’s a case of putting it right.’’
He said council staff had ordered better safety measures.
A council spokesperson explaind: ’’When [we] become aware a mistake had been made by the contractor we visited them on site immediately. They agreed to put in an appropriate traffic management plan while the work required to widen the road could be done.’’
The island was installed as part of plans developed by Cuttriss Consultants for a new housing project.
Company director Colin McElwain said: ‘‘It seems people have come through and grabbed cones and dragged them off down the walkway, which has made a mess of the traffic control that was there.’’
The traffic island is part of the multimillion-dollar Parkway Rise project, of close to 70 sections. Construction is due to be completed by late September. also