Concerns raised over lights again

Lighting issues at Tokoroa’s State Highway 1 crossing have again been highlighted following the death of a pedestrian.

New Plymouth’s Keith Robert Roebuck, 70, died after being struck by a car on the crossing at around midnight on October 31.

His wife Louise was rushed to Waikato Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit in critical condition.

They were struck while returning to their camper van after watching the All Blacks at a local pub.

Whilst the cause of the crash is yet to be determined, South Waikato District Council contract engineer Andrew Diffey said poor lighting may have played a part. The crossing has no designated lighting.

During the council’s recent December meeting he revealed the South Waikato District Council informed Waka Kotahi the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) in 2016 but it failed to act. A claim the NZTA has been unable to dispute or verify.

‘‘Most pedestrian crossings have separate lights for the crossing itself which helps with the lighting. Unfortunately, because the crossing on SH1 Tokoroa is on a wide load route, the lights that are meant to be there to light up the crossing were frequently knocked over by wide loads being transported along SH1,‘‘ he said.

‘‘Consequently, the lighting ended up being removed completely. The lights that now light up this crossing are only the streetlights beside it.’’

Diffey said the council reached out to the New Zealand Transport Agency in 2016 but it was never addressed.

‘‘In 2016 [the council] suggested that the lights, usually present on either side of a crossing, [be] installed on the centre island instead,’’ he said.

‘‘There is already power at this point, because of the previously used belisha beacons. The cost of this upgrade came out to just under $12,000 in 2016 and was presented to NZTA but has not gone any further.

‘‘Being on a state highway, NZTA is the governing body who manage the crossing. Although the council can make recommendations, NZTA have the final say as to what happens.’’

NZTA Waikato system manager Cara Lauder could not find a record of the council’s 2016 request.

‘‘We are unable to locate the request you are referring to within your deadline. However, we are following this up with the council,’’ she said.

‘‘Waka Kotahi is happy to look into [upgrading the lighting] but is unable to speculate on timeframes.’’

Lauder said the crossing situation was not unique.

‘‘This is not uncommon, particularly where the main use for the pedestrian crossing is during the day,’’ she said.

South Waikato Mayor Jenny Shattock is set to send a letter to NZTA requesting the lighting be upgraded urgently.

‘‘Waka Kotahi is happy to look into [upgrading the lighting] but is unable to speculate on timeframes.’’

Cara Lauder