Safety concerns with Rangiora cycle route
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
A proposed cycle way in Rangiora has been approved for further consultation, despite safety concerns.
The Waimakariri District Council’s utilities and roading committee has chosen Railway Rd as the preferred route over Southbrook Rd, as it looks to link the Passchendaele Pathway (between Kaiapoi and Rangiora) with the Rangiora town centre.
The proposed route would head up Railway Rd, along Torlesse and Coronation streets and up Ellis Rd.
But Pak’nSave store owner James Flanagan and Foodstuffs South Island Ltd property development manager Rebecca Parish said following Railway Road past the supermarket was ‘‘the wrong option’’.
In a deputation to Tuesday’s (April 18) committee meeting, Flanagan said up to 10 large, 2.9 metre wide trucks made deliveries to Pak’nSave each day via Railway Rd.
The lack visibility for truck drivers made it unsafe for cyclists, he said.
‘‘The council is making a decision over funding, rather than safety.’’
The project was being funded through the Government’s Transport Choices funding package, which required all works to be completed by June 2024.
But senior engineering adviser Don Young said the safety concerns could be mitigated.
He suggested making Railway Rd one-way, widening the road, and installing signage and flashing lights to warn cyclists of trucks.
The only other viable route would involve crossing the railway line at Marsh Rd and crossing back further up, but this would require agreement from KiwiRail, he said.
Council staff had approached KiwiRail and been advised it could take ‘‘years to complete’’, following KiwiRail processes due to staff shortages.
‘‘We don’t have that timeframe with the funding we have, but we could look at it for the long-term plan,’’ Young said.
Councillors voted to authorise staff to proceed with detailed design and consultation with businesses in the area and other stakeholders.
A road safety audit will be completed and a report will be presented to the utilities and roading committee in July.
Fears motorway toll could leave North Canterbury town worse off
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A community leader fears a toll on the proposed motorway extension could leave a North Canterbury town worse off.
Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said she fears Woodend could face increased traffic without promised safety improvements, if a toll is introduced on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension, which includes the proposed Woodend Bypass.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) last month announced consultation for a toll of $4.30 for light vehicles and $8.60 for heavy vehicles (including trucks) on the new 11km Manawatu Gorge Motorway, which will be completed next year.
It means commuters could be stung with paying an extra $43 a week in their travel costs.
The agency said the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension will be 9km, including the Woodend Bypass and the realignment and four laning south of Pineacres.
Woodend residents have been waiting for safety improvements since NZTA began consulting with the community eight years ago.
But the safety improvements have been placed on hold, pending the progress of the motorway extension.
‘‘My biggest concern is people will continue using the existing road through Woodend and will go through Kaiapoi or Tuahiwi to avoid paying the toll,’’ Powell said.
‘‘And Woodend may not get the safety improvements, so nothing changes.’’
Powell was also concerned the speed reduction from 100kph to 80kph on State Highway 1 between the Pegasus roundabout and Waikuku could be reversed, following changes to the Setting of Speed Limits rule being announced.
‘‘It was a speed limit requested by the community as a safety improvement.
‘‘To go back to having that fast speed limit for traffic coming from the north, it would just be disastrous.’’
NZTA director regional relationships James Caygill said the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport requires the agency to consider tolling for new roads.
‘‘But it is too soon to discuss any potential tolling options until the scope and cost of this project has been confirmed’’.
Caygill was unable to confirm whether the 80kph speed limit between Pegasus and Waikuku would remain.
He said the agency will identify locations affected by the rule once it is finalised later in the year.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said Waka Kotahi ‘‘is working at pace’’ to deliver the motorway extension.
‘‘NZTA’s project teams are reviewing the scope, design, cost, and timing of all Roads of National Significance projects to ensure consistency with expectations in the GPS on Land Transport 2024.’’
He said Government ‘‘will support any recommendation from NZTA to toll roads’’.
The Government was also committed to ‘‘reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions’’, Brown said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
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42.1% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
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57.1% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
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0.8% Other - I'll share below
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