The first of five new sets of new traffic lights that are an integral part of a $3 million safety improvements project on Thames Street State Highway 1 in Oamaru will be switched on this Thursday 19 March.
The first of five new sets of new traffic lights that are an integral part of a $3 million safety improvements project on Thames Street State Highway 1 in Oamaru will be switched on this Thursday 19 March.
This project is to reduce the number and severity of crashes on the section of Thames Street from Orwell St to just south of Coquet St. The crash rate on this section of highway is much higher than expected for this type of urban state highway.
The first of the traffic lights to be activated are at the Eden-Thames St intersection. New Zealand Transport Agency Regional Highways Manager Murray Clarke says “these lights are being activated first to allow the removal of the existing pedestrian crossing lights – which are mid way between Eden St and Coquet St. Components of the removed lights will then be re-used at the new Ouse-Thames Streets intersection traffic lights”.
The remaining four sets of traffic lights will that are expected to come on stream in the next few weeks once paving and road marking work is finished, are at Thames-Severn Coquet Streets, Ribble-Thames, Usk-Thames and Ouse Thames intersections.
Murray Clarke says “once all five new traffic signals are operating there should be a marked improvement in traffic flows and pedestrian safety along Thames St between Orwell and Coquet streets”.
For more information please contact:
Bob Nettleton
Regional Communications Advisor
T DDI 03 951 3005
M 021 954 928
F 03 951 3013
E-mail bob.nettleton@nzta.govt.nz
