Damage to motorway sign possibly a blast from the past
POLICE are appealing for information about a sign on Dunedin’s Southern Motorway which appears to have been blasted with a shotgun.
The sign, on State Highway 1 heading south near Green Island, advertises the turnoff to Sunnyvale and Brighton, and is peppered with holes in a shotgun pattern, just past the white arrow.
A police spokeswoman said they had received no reports regarding the alleged shooting, but encouraged anyone with information regarding the damage to contact Dunedin police.
However, NZ Transport Agency maintenance contract manager Nick Rodger reserved judgement regarding whether the sign had been damaged in a shooting.
‘‘We are not certain that it was caused by a shotgun, as there’s no perforation and the pattern is too close and tight.
‘‘It could be caused by a rock or similar debris coming off a vehicle at speed.’’
Mr Rodger said the sign was damaged ‘‘sometime during 2012’’ according to NZTA video records.
‘‘There are other signs in greater need of replacement around the network due to a range of different factors such as sunbleaching, loss of retroreflectivity or lichen growth.
‘‘If the Otago Daily Times believes people have been firing shotguns at the sign, this issue should be referred to the police.’’
A Dunedin police (03) 4714800, Crimestoppers 0800 555111.