Speed ​​reduction favors wire barriers

Reducing speeds, not putting up wire barriers, is the best way to reduce deaths, says a former Christchurch city councillor.

Mike Stevens, who served two terms on the Christchurch City Council, met with landowners and businesses along State Highway 1 between the Cam River, Kaiapoa and Saltwater Creek, north of the Ashley River, to hear their concerns.

“People feel like they’re not being listened to and they don’t know what to do,” he said.

Waka Kotahi/New Zealand Transport Agency is proposing to install wire barriers, known as cheese graters, on the center line.

But at a meeting last month with Waka Kotahi Regional Communications Director James Cagill, residents learned that according to agency guidelines, wire barriers are not required if the speed limit is below 70 km/h.

Mr Stephens advocated a 60km/h speed limit from the River Cam, south of the Pine Acres junction, to Woodend and then from Woodend to the Ashley River.

The current speed limit was 80 km/h.

“There will be complaints, but I would like to see a life saved at one of the most dangerous intersections in New Zealand.”

He also advocated ending the right turn at the Pine Acres intersection.

As a former emergency operator, Mr Stevens said the Pine Acres junction was “the most profitable junction in Canterbury”.

These days, Mr Stevens makes the daily commute between his Saltwater Creek property and Christchurch along SH1.

“Whatever they’ve done here, it hasn’t made it any better,” he said, parked in a parking lot north of Pine Acres.

The dip was a place where truck drivers stopped to rest or transfer the driver.

Mr Stevens said the proposed Woodend Bypass would solve many of these problems when it opened.

This was reported by the SH1 company, which did not wish to be named Reporting on local democracy they agreed with Mr. Stevens’s views.

A Waka Kotahi representative said a letter was sent to all residents and businesses on SH1 between Saltwater Creek and Cam River late last year asking them to contact the agency if they had any concerns.

“We received many comments on our current plan to improve safety along SH1 between Saltwater Creek and Cam River.

“We are continuing conversations with our partners, conducting further research and considering the comments received as we continue to work on the design.

“We will keep the community informed of progress.”

Residents and businesses can still get in touch safetynorthcanterbury@nzta.govt.nz to share your concerns.

– David Hill
Reporter of local democracy

• Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.