‘Just a white circle painted on the road’
NEW painted roundabouts popping up across Dunedin will improve safety, the Dunedin City Council says.
However, a resident has raised concerns, saying they could lead to accidents.
In recent weeks, painted circles have appeared on intersections throughout Dunedin including in Aberdeen and Isadore Rds, David and Thorn Sts, and Arthur and Russell Sts.
It is part of a nineintersection council project also including Shetland, Chapman and Dale Sts, Tainui Rd and Dundonald St, Manor Pl and Melville St, Wickliffe and Church Sts, Musselburgh Rise and Shore St, and Halsey and Ward Sts.
The council says the $120,000 project is meant to improve safety at the intersections and would be completed by the end of the month.
Mosgiel resident Wendy Deans said she was ‘‘very worried’’ about how dangerous they could be.
She often drove through the Thorn St intersection and she thought it would lead to accidents, as there was little signage and the roundabout was not raised.
‘‘They’re not a roundabout, as such. It’s just a white circle painted on the road.’’
She called the council about her concerns.
Council transport engineering and road safety team leader Hjarne Poulsen said markings were installed first with temporary signs to indicate the road layout had changed.
‘‘Standard roundabout give way signs have now been installed. Raised centre island speed humps are still to be installed at some of the intersections.’’
The council would monitor the roundabouts and could do further work such as kerb buildouts, mobility crossings or changes to their sizes.