NZTA rejects concerns over refuge site

A ‘‘REFUGE’’ for pedestrians in the middle of State Highway 1 is proving to be nothing of the sort, Balclutha residents and authorities say.

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan voiced strong concerns about the pedestrian refuge to the Otago Daily Times at the time of its construction last June.

At the time, he described its location — at a fourway intersection leading to a passing lane up a hill — as ‘‘ludicrous’’ and likely to cause a fatality.

The refuge provides a pedestrian crossing point over SH1, at the intersection of Hospital Rd and Lewin St, at the southern end of Balclutha.

Talking to the ODT yesterday, Mr Cadogan said it gave him no pleasure that his predictions had proved prescient although, fortunately, not yet fatal.

‘‘Within the past fortnight, we’ve seen the fourth collision with the refuge barriers, at a location where previously there had been not a single accident in all my years in Balclutha.’’

His biggest concern was children using the crossing, believing it was a safer place to cross.

‘‘It only takes someone who doesn’t know the setup driving through at home time and the worst could happen, which nobody wants to see.’’

Lewin St resident Anne Bichan, whose home overlooks the refuge, said a crossing was needed nearby, but not at its current location.

‘‘It’s just the wrong place for drivers and pedestrians alike. There are perfectly good sites a bit further north,’’ she said.

NZ Transport Agency senior safety engineer Roy Johnston said it was concerning some drivers were not registering the existence of the refuge, but would not acknowledge it might require relocation.

‘‘It is very visible to drivers and meets all the specifications for traffic islands . . . This is the place where most pedestrians cross the highway and it provides them with a halfway point and greater safety.

‘‘This is particularly important for older people and people supervising children, or pushing a buggy with a child.’’

Although NZTA did not plan to remove the refuge, it was considering additional crossing locations nearby, Mr Johnston said.

PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON Safety questioned . . . Balclutha residents are questioning the positioning of a pedestrian refuge on State Highway 1 to the south of the town, after a succession of accidents at the site.