Traffic issues with bridge clip-on
A case of compliance culture, not judgment culture
The Waikanae River bridge saga is an illustrative case of how New Zealand, and government departments, have been taken over by an ideology of compliance culture, not judgment culture.
Waikanae Bridge is being shut down to southbound traffic for up to five months — you read that right: five months — so a new footpath that is built off site can be attached to existing supports.
I’ve heard the concerns almost everyone in our community shares in the inefficiency of this, the ineffectiveness, and the obvious second-order safety impacts on other roads during detours. I’ve written to NZTA, I’ve spoken with them, I’ve asked them to meet with me, I’ve spoken with the Minister of Transport, he’s spoken with NZTA too. NZTA are firm that this was committed by the previous government and so it will go ahead as is and as it’s already paid for. This ideological approach will not be the style of the new government.
There is an obvious question many ask: why do this work now? There were thousands more vehicle movements over the bridge when it was SH1. Hasn’t that horse bolted? There is logic behind this. The same applies to upcoming work on the Ō taki River bridge. There are also issues between Levin and Foxton with centreline barriers.
Compliance is driving the traffic management solution. The “easiest” solution for NZTA appears to be to isolate all imediate traffic management challenges and just make southbound traffic someone else’s problem. That is easiest for the contractors on the bridge, but we need to look at the whole system. What about people who live just south of the bridge now driving the long way around to get the kids home from school? What about those whose licence stops them driving on the expressway? What about ducking to the shops or visiting friends? What about the extra traffic forced onto other roads? Yes, we need to accept inconvenience, but are there better options?
What if we encourage those who can to go on the expressway, but also be pragmatic and let those who need to go through, and are willing to line up, go through using automatic traffic lights? We have them available.
NZTA doesn’t want to have the bridge open sometimes and closed at other times because we might all get confused. I think we’re pretty smart. I’m sure we could all accept a few days, even a few weeks, of bridge closure if it was targeted and there was active work going on at the time, but do we need such a blunt approach? I’ll be pushing for a faster and more concentrated work time.
NZTA is worried about the impact at the Elizabeth St railway crossing. We don’t want to fix one problem and create another, but have we considered every option? Can we change the phasing of traffic lights to smooth this? Have we thought about the impact of more traffic leaving the expressway at Paraparaumu heading south? More traffic in Kā piti Rd? I have asked NZTA to articulate the risk at the railway crossing and other roads with consequence and likelihood, and detail the previous instances so we can see the genuine risk being addressed. I’m yet to see that.
NZTA’s decision maybe locked in from before the election, but I look forward to the chance to sit down with them as soon as they’re able, and represent the views of our community to ensure we get the best outcomes. They have stated this is their final solution but I’ll always fight for the needs of our community.