Blackspot: Corner Thomas and Gordonton Roads
An update on the blackspot on the corner of Thomas and Gordonton Roads:
Work to further improve safety at the Thomas Rd/Gordonton Rd intersection has been fast-tracked by Hamilton City Council in preparation for the installation of traffic signals at the intersection.
Cr Dave Macpherson, Chair of the Council’s Growth and Infrastructure Committee, says after the tragic event on 20 July, where a young man lost his life, it has further highlighted the risks are too high if people make a mistake.
“We know this is a busy intersection and the Council has been working on making it safer and to date has implemented a series of safety measures.
“There are already electronic 60km/h speed signs which are activated when vehicles are turning in the intersection, and a large number of traffic cones and other warning devices on approach to all legs of the intersection. However, these have now been supplemented with the installation of two Variable Message Boards,” Cr Macpherson says.
Funding for a signalised intersection was approved in June during the Council’s 10-Year Plan process with construction scheduled to begin 1 October 2018. Completion is by December 2018.
Chris Allen, General Manager Development Group says site preparation work for the upgrade was due to start this September, the Council is now looking at bringing this forward by one month.
“Preparation work will require the Council to introduce a Traffic Management Plan which will provide an immediate temporary reduction in the speed limit and provide safer road conditions for road users in the area.
“The speed limit will be reduced to 30km/h while the teams are out undertaking work near the road and a 60km/h speed limit will be set for afterhours.
“We understand for some people these changes have taken a long time, however it’s important to understand this is a transformational change to the intersection and we must get it right.
“Our transportation and development teams have been working hard on fast tracking this work since the beginning of the year, it takes time to confirm things like funding, land purchasing, design development, safety audits and understanding and implementing utilities services relocations.
“A signalised intersection is the preferred option rather than a roundabout as it offers improved safety via better intersection control and traffic flow management, it is safer for people on bikes and is quicker to implement,” says Mr Allen.
The Council wants to remind road users while work is happening there will be an increase in congestion on the network so extra care will be needed in the area, slow down, drive to the conditions and look twice for other road users.
Hearings will be this week for the Council’s proposal to improve safety along Gordonton Rd, between Wairere Dr and north of Thomas Rd, through a permanent reduction of the speed limit to 60km/h.
hamilton.govt.nz/gordontonrd
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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62% Summer
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36.5% Winter
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
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