Interim fix ‘long overdue’
Right turns at a busy northwest Auckland intersection will be banned from May.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency sought feedback on its proposal to ban right turns out of CoatesvilleRiverhead Hwy onto State Highway 16 in Kumeū in April last year.
The ban was proposed as an interim solution to improve safety at the intersection while a roundabout was designed, consented and built.
According to data from the agency, there were 39 crashes at the intersection, including one serious crash and at least three fatal crashes, between
2010 and 2020.
The agency has now decided to proceed with the right turn ban, which will come into play from May. Those wanting to turn right can instead detour down Old Railway Rd to use the roundabout at the intersection of SH16 and Old North Rd.
‘‘We know that it will not solve all of the issues in this area which is why we remain focussed on delivering the permanent improvements as quickly as we can,’’ the agency said on its website.
Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP Chris Penk said the move was ‘‘long overdue’’ as a temporary fix – but not as overdue as the roundabout that had been promised.
‘‘We’re only in a situation where the right turn ban is needed because we haven’t had the more substantial works completed, or even started,’’ Penk said. ‘‘It’s only a Band-Aid solution to the gaping wound that is the state of SH16.’’
Banning right turns could add to the traffic often queued up along SH16 heading into Kumeū, with motorists having to turn left and U-turn at the Brigham Creek roundabout, but he expected this would only be minor as only a ‘‘relatively small’’ number of motorists turned right anyway.
Penk believed banning right turns was a ‘‘worthwhile sacrifice’’ because of the high possibility of there being a head-on or T-bone collision at the intersection.
Rodney Local Board chairman Phelan Pirrie was also ‘‘underwhelmed’’ by the interim safety measure.
‘‘I’m so frustrated with this. This was meant to save peoples’ lives and make the road safer,’’ Pirrie said. ‘‘This is meant to have been finished, the whole project. Improving safety is getting on with the whole project.’’
Regarding improvements to SH16, the agency website says it is facing challenges because of Covid-19, such as ‘‘a constrained labour market, supply chain issues and cost escalations’’.
Design of the roundabout was ‘‘under way . . . A roundabout requires consents such as a resource consent as well as likely needing some land acquisition . . . We understand the importance of this roundabout which is why we’re progressing the design with urgency.’’
Pirrie did not believe Covid was a reasonable excuse for delays in designing the roundabout because it could be done from a desktop, he said.
‘‘This was delayed long before Covid.’’
The agency expects to lodge a resource consent application with Auckland Council late this year.