Do you think the changes to the Intersection at SH 1 and Waikawa Beach road are an improvement or detrimental to safety at that intersection?
Last week Horowhenua District Councillor Christine Mitchell and the Chief Executive David Clapperton attended our committee meeting where all committee members present expressed concern with the new road layout. One of our committee also contacted the local MP Nathan Guy.
As a result we have been invited to an on-site meeting with three senior staff from NZTA. They are Communications and Stakeholder Liaison Manager Michael Flyger, Central Highways Manager David McGonigal and Safety Engineer Mike Pilgrim.
When Monday 28 September 2015 at 3.30pm
If the weather is bad the meeting will be transferred from the intersection to the Manakau Community Trust Hall.
Their invitation states they want to explain the changes made at the intersection particularly with regard to traffic turning left onto the State Highway to head north and also their intentions of the project as a whole.
We feel that if there is a good representation of local residents at this meeting they may realize that they have made some serious mistakes. A similar situation occurred at Ohau and they succumbed to public pressure and planned changes were not made.
Our main concerns are the lack of adequate slip and merge lanes, not only at Waikawa Beach Road but also at the rail crossing entrance to Manakau, the provision of a parking bay opposite the shop and an oversized power pole which restricts visibility to the south when waiting at the intersection on Waikawa Beach Road.
We are also hoping that Manakau residents will also attend as they have also expressed serious concerns.