Locals want action at wellknown danger spot
LOCALS as calling for better signs and more grit on a shaded stretch of road about 3km southwest Ngapara, in North Otago.
‘‘It’s only a matter of time before someone dies,’’ Ngapara woman Helen Kay said yesterday, of the the wellknown trouble spot on WestonNgapara Rd.
In 2014 her Subaru Impreza left the road and became submerged in a nearby pond. As the car became submerged, she clambered into the back and ‘‘kicked the hell out of’’ a window to free herself, the Otago Daily Times reported at the time.
Yesterday, her sister lost control in the same spot and ‘‘ended up in tears’’.
The bridge at the northern end of the stretch of road remained ‘‘full of ice’’ throughout the winter, Denise Kay said yesterday.
While the area was known locally as a dangerous curve, a false sense of security was instilled in drivers by signs that read ‘‘ice/grit’’ nearby when, she said, that was ‘‘no grit’’ on the road.
Yesterday several neighbours met the Otago Daily Times at the trouble spot in the hopes of raising awareness of the location’s issues.
‘‘People think that it’s safe and it’s not — and before they realise it’s not, it’s too late,’’ Keith Harrington said.
‘‘Hit that [stretch of icy road] at 100kmh and you’re gone,’’ Glen Hooper said. ‘‘It gets people every year.’’
Waitaki District Council roading manager Michael Voss said the section of WestonNgapara Rd known as ‘‘Queens Flat’’ was gritted on June 2 ‘‘in anticipation of forecasted bad weather including ice and frost’’.
Signs warning motorists of possible frost and ice were put up on May 1 and would remain in place throughout the winter, he said.
‘‘These signs are to warn motorists that they could encounter frost and ice on roads and that they should drive accordingly,’’ Mr Voss said. ‘‘The signs do not necessarily mean that grit will be present. Grit is applied when it is needed and we have not had icy roads severe enough to warrant gritting until now.’’
He said an average of 430 vehicles a day used the road and the council had not received any complaints or requests to grit the road.
‘‘While we have appropriate signs and grit roads when necessary, we urge motorists to drive to the conditions, particularly early in the morning and later in the evening, when the likelihood of encountering ice on shady areas is high.’’
Ms Kay called the council’s response ‘‘absolutely pathetic’’ yesterday. And while none of the Ngapara residents had requested grit this year, they said the road had not received enough grit now for several years. Requests made in past years had received no action.
hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz