Traffic management cone overkill ‘could get worse’
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A perceived road cone overkill may not come to an end any time soon.
Councillors have been warned a change in traffic management philosophy may not reduce the amount of cones on Ashburton streets.
Instead, it could get worse, council chief executive Hamish Riach cautioned.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s regional relationships manager, James Caygill, told the Ashburton District Council there is “a transition from one regime for traffic management to another one” in New Zealand.
In the past there had been an "exceptionally prescriptive'' approach, he said.
That was transitioning to a risk-based approach instead.
“They will no longer have the ‘there must be X cones’, so you should see over time a transition.”
Councillors had initially taken it as positive news to counteract the public’s perception of road cone overkill.
But Riach warned that a shift to a risk-based approach could put costs up.
“It will be saying 'have you done everything to mitigate the risk', and when contractors turn their mind to that question, they may decide to do more, not less.”
Council’s infrastructure and open spaces manager Neil McCann said the council was still waiting to see what impact the new approach would have.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.6% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.7% Hmm, maybe?
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10.8% Yes!
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How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?
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Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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91.4% Yes
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8.6% No
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