$12 million fix for dangerous road struggles for support

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Fixing 900m of dangerous roadway just north of Greymouth would cost upwards of $12 million, according to evidence presented for the 2024 West Coast Regional Transport Plan.

And despite the recognised danger to cyclists along the section of State Highway 6 north of Greymouth, it is a sum unlikely to be paid.

At the hearing into the draft plan on July 5, resident Suzanne Hills said the Coast Road was "just manageable" for cyclists but only for those who were confident and had quick reactions.

She singled out the 900m section of road just north of Greymouth's Cobden Bridge as "extremely dangerous".

Those riding in both directions contend with steep cliffs, bluffs, no road shoulders, blind corners and the narrow overbridges at Coal Creek and Camp, Hills said.

"Combined with Greymouth 'rush hour' traffic, it can be very frightening," she said.

"Something can and must be done about this dangerous 900m section of road to avoid lives being destroyed."

In a formal recommendation to the committee, council planning staff agreed the section of State highway 6 from the Cobden Bridge to Taylorville Road "is narrow and difficult for cyclists".

But they also suggested a $12m improvement project to fix those issues would not be prioritised under the draft Government Transport Policy Statement (GPS).

Investigation of options to improve the corridor for cyclists had been undertaken by the NZ Transport Agency in 2023.

"The cost of the identified solution is high, at $12m-plus. A project of this scale is not supported by the draft GPS," the staff recommendation said.

Punakaiki resident Marie Elder said the draft plan's positive endorsement of active transport recognised State Highway 6 is used by cyclists as a principal means of transport.

In contrast, the advancement of the Barrytown Flats mining proposal by TiGa with up to 50 extra heavy truck movements a day along the route, compromised that.

Elder said she personally knew of five cyclists in the regular use category.

She often saw others on her (45km) journeys from Punakaiki to Greymouth, and return.

Greymouth mayor Tania Gibson said she could not ignore the wider economic benefit of proposals like TiGa's.

She said Elder seemed to single out the impact of that on State Highway 6 without acknowledging it was already a heavy transport route, including for the region's dairy industry.

In response, Elder said Westland Milk tankers only travelled in one direction at a time, were much quieter, and locals could anticipate their movements.

However, Gibson said they were talking about a state highway that available to multiple users at any time.

"I still do not believe it is a reason not to have trucks on the road," she said.

Haddock, a Punakaiki bach owner, asked Elder how many cyclists she regularly encountered, particularly on the 30km stretch of the Coast Road from Rapahoe north.

"I don't see a lot in my regular travels," Haddock said.

Elder said there were four regular cyclists she knew of.