Safety concerns over parking at cycle bridge
Many new users, but concerns about parking, speeding trucks being expressed
The Upokongaro Cycle Bridge has been crossed almost 35,000 times since it opened last month. But with its popularity, some have raised concerns about the safety of parking, which the Whanganui District Council says it will be looking into.
Although 20 per cent of bridge users have been cyclists, 80 per cent have been pedestrians.
Papaiti resident Deb Frederikse said the parking on the Papaiti Rd side was not enough for the number of people visiting the bridge.
“When you are driving from the north end there is a bend just before the bridge and people are not really visible when you are going around the corner. You are quite close to the road when you are getting out of your car there,” she said.
“People seem a little bit oblivious to the potential danger. Admittedly, being the holidays, there are loads of people in the area.”
Frederikse said perhaps more signs could be put up on each side of the bridge warning drivers to slow down.
“People come down from Mosquito Pt at quite high speeds, that also includes logging trucks. The logging trucks need to be told to slow down. They drive through there way too fast.”
The 130m-long suspension bridge was installed in March last year.
The council says it cost about $3.4 million, including the associated cycleway extension, chipsealing of paths and fencing. Of that, $647,000 is attributable to delays.
Te Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is funding 50 per cent of the project, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has allocated $600,000 and the council is paying the remainder. The council said it would work with the community and gather information about user numbers and safety in the vicinity of the bridge. “Parking will be included in this process and any decisions will be evidence-based.”
Frederikse couldn’t believe the number of people who had visited the bridge already. “It seems unbelievable. But that shows the interest and the fact it is so accessible from town with the new boat path, it’s such a beautiful area.”
Bridge users Sandra Ashworth and Gail Head said the parking could be improved on the Papaiti Rd side. “It is pretty limited. Especially with that blind corner here and the road having a speed limit of 100km/h,” Head said.
Ashworth, who had parked in the Upokongaro village, said the bridge has brought a lot more people to the settlement.