Crash sparks fresh intersection criticism
A CRASH at the intersection of Moray Pl and Princes St has brought more criticism about the design of the reengineered intersection.
The new road markings were described last week by a concerned motorist as ‘‘utter madness’’. This week, the same motorist pointed out an online post about the intersection.
The post writer reported having just seen an accident at the intersection and commented that, if the law of common sense was applied, ‘‘the only party at fault is whoever designed the intersection’’.
Recent changes to the intersection have a leftturning lane and a straight through lane from the First Church side of the intersection, with parking on the left alongside the kerb.
On the opposite side, markings have three lanes coming down Moray Pl — a leftturning lane, a straight through lane and a right turning lane. That means traffic travelling straight ahead from the First Church side has to move diagonally through the intersection, as indicated by a broken white line, to avoid vehicles coming towards them.
The post writer said he saw an accident at the intersection just after 11.30am on Monday, when there was a collision between a car coming down Moray Pl to turn right into Princes St and a small truck travelling straight through from the First Church side.
Describing what happened, the writer said he had ‘‘complete sympathy’’ for both drivers.
‘‘They were both fooled by the ridiculous layout.
‘‘When will common sense kick in and someone admit they stuffed up,’’ the man said.
Asked to comment on the crash and the situation with the road layout, Dunedin City Council traffic group manager Richard Saunders said the council was not aware of any other accidents at the intersection.
And when asked whether the road markings were likely to be adjusted, Mr Saunders said there would be a change next week when the intersection was converted to a Barnes dance.
The three lanes coming down Moray Pl, outside the Savoy Building, will be reduced to two lanes, a combined straight through, leftturn lane and a rightturn lane.
Moving the lanes towards the kerb on the left would improve the alignment with traffic coming straight across the intersection from lower Moray Pl, Mr Saunders said.