Documents show crossing issues

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

The subject was mentioned in emails released under the Official Information Act

Port Otago had pressed the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to shift the crossing a few metres along Beach St and away from a busy intersection, citing safety concerns.

This would result in loss of carparks immediately outside the library and lack of consultation about this ended up being controversial, leading to a pause in the project early this year.

An email on July 19 last year from Dunedin City Council transport and road safety adviser Ian Martin showed the issue had been raised.

He did not see a problem with extending an exposed aggregate surface so there would be a consistent footpath.

‘‘On a separate note, has there been any consultation on parking changes? I had a call from the library who are concerned about loss of parking.’’

A Port Otago representative replied ‘‘we have previously discussed that, because there will be a net increase in parking in Beach St, it was not considered necessary to consult on this’’.

In February 2021, the port referred to some of its development plans, including construction of a new administration building, and laid out its concerns about the existing roading configuration.

The port said shifting the crossing would make it much safer — ‘‘trucks won’t drive over the pedestrian crossing island or hit the various pedestrian crossing signs, as they do currently’’.

‘‘Over the years we have observed many close calls between heavy vehicles coming down George St and cars turning right from Beach St into George St misjudging the distance required to get through the intersection.’’

Plans were refined, the port volunteered to contribute to costs...