First traffic lights for Far North
The Far North can no longer lay claim to being free from traffic lights, with the installation of a set at a Paihia pedestrian crossing.
Installation of the signalised traffic lights (puffin) in Paihia at the Marsden Rd, State Highway 11 pedestrian crossing, is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-June with the lights operating year round.
The New Zealand Transport Agency says the signals are in response to the growing number of tourists visiting Paihia, many of them arriving from cruise ships.
‘‘The technology which is known as a puffin crossing uses detectors to measure pedestrian movements and help people cross the road safely,’’ Northland Safety and Network Performance Manager Tim Crow says.
‘‘It responds to the pace of the person crossing to extend the crossing time if it’s needed or cancels the pedestrian phase if someone decides not to cross. This increases safety for pedestrians and removes frustrations for motorists because it means traffic isn’t waiting for periods when there are no pedestrians.’’
A public meeting was held in January to discuss the proposed installation of the Marsden Rd pedestrian crossing.
Paihia subdivision representative on the Bay of Islands Whangaroa community board Belinda Ward says something needed to be done to control traffic and pedestrian flows especially during the busy summer period.
‘‘There had to be some sort of resolve with safety issues. There are specific times when there is heavy pedestrian flow like when the Bay of Islands boats come into the wharf and when people leave. Hopefully the puffin lights don’t back up the traffic out of town like it used to.’’
She says the safety barriers designed to guide people towards the crossing will also be helpful to prevent people from crossing at other points along the road.
Comments on social media regarding the installation of the traffic lights in Paihia featured mixed reactions with some commenting that traffic lights at the Puketona Intersection or the upgrade of the Waipapa Rd intersection with State Highway 10 should have been of higher priority.