Marine Parade’s 3 crossings draw ire
Popular coastal road closed for about a month from today
Who in their right mind would put a crossing point at the front of a bus stop giventhereisa pedestrian crossing only a few metres away? Mark Scofield, Double Decker Transport
Napier tourism operators have raised concerns about new pedestrian safety measures set to be installed on Marine Parade. The busy coastal road will be closed for about a month from Wednesday until June 4, while the Napier City Council installs three raised courtesy crossings.
Mark Scofield, of Double Decker Transport Ltd, which runs the iconic art deco tour buses, said the new safety upgrades had made parts of the road more dangerous.
“Changes to date have not improved safety and we now have three lanes of traffic to cross.”
This had made it harder for pedestrians to get across, he said.
New measures designed to discourage heavy port-bound traffic from using the route had also made it more difficult for tour bus operators.
He pointed to a traffic island and a crossing point at the front of the bus stop near the Napier i-Site as another example where it had made crossing Marine Pde more difficult.
“Who in their right mind would put a crossing point at the front of a bus stop given there is a pedestrian crossing only a few metres away?”
The closure would exacerbate Napier’s parking issue and see inner-city traffic increase, he said.
“They need to sort a good plan and cityscape for the whole area and do it properly once, not the piecemeal approach we have seen to date.”
Scofield said he would like to see the road returned to “the old way”, with just two lanes of traffic and parking on each side.
A council spokesperson said the crossing’s position and how it operates would be reviewed following the installation of the new crossings.
The pedestrian crossing at the Soundshell will remain as is, but the crossing markings are being improved, she said.
She said the safety crossings features were based on “extensive consultation” undertaken in 2018.
The crossings, which will cost $230,000, were unable to be installed in previous financial years for various reasons.
“More recently as the works have been scheduled, council has notified affected business owners and where possible taken on board their concerns in the traffic management plan for the delivery of the works,” she said.
The aim of the works was to improve pedestrian connectivity, slow vehicles, and reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling along Marine Parade.
Alternative routes will be available. Heavy vehicles travelling both north and south will have to use SH2 (Georges Drive) from the Ellison St turn-off to Hyderabad Rd.
Other traffic will be directed down Hastings St from the roundabout near MTG Hawke’s Bay to Vautier St.
The one-way parking lane which runs alongside Marine Parade remains open for lightweight traffic, including northbound cyclists.
Cyclists can also use the beachside pathway.
This is also the path those undertaking the Hawke’s Bay Marathon on May 15 will take.
A spokesperson for the event said the road closure had not impacted the course. “We’re been in contact with council regarding it and will continue to work with it in the leadup to the event.”