Thank you to the people we’ve met with, attended the Public Information Day and provided feedback for this Project.
Approximately 40 people attended the Open Day, with a mixture of local Spring Creek residents, residents from neighbouring suburbs such as Tuamarina, truck drivers/operators, industry operators, and local business owners.
The feedback we’ve received has been very useful to assist our design team in refining the roundabout design. At the same time, the design team are also trying to balance the safety needs of everyday motorists, large vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and the rail line, while also supporting continued access to residences and local businesses.
You’ve told us the following is important to you:
- The safety of the community using the intersection, whether as a motorist, pedestrian or cyclist. We’ve received many positive comments about the proposed pedestrian and cyclist facilities, especially the pedestrian refuge points.
- Continued easy access to local businesses with as little disruption as possible if construction goes ahead.
- The ongoing viability and operation of local businesses. Overwhelmingly, the majority of feedback we’ve received identified your level of patronage for local businesses will not change as a result of the proposed changes to the intersection.
- Traffic not backing up and blocking through traffic when a train is crossing, particularly so that emergency vehicles can get through.
- The need to investigate the existing shunting train schedule. There are current frustrations with the railway lights being triggered and creating motorist confusion on whether to cross the railway line.
- Trucks being able to safely manoeuvre around the roundabout.
What we’ve been looking at in response to the feedback:
- Landscape areas around the intersection and for the middle of the roundabout.
- The use of Variable Message Signs (VMS) on the approaches to the roundabout, with awareness messaging to motorists about the barrier operation and roundabout.
- Reducing the design width of the footpath by the Junction Hotel (corner of SH1 and Rapaura Road) to 2m instead of 3m.
- Whether additional space can be accommodated for the left hand turn lane from SH1 into Ferry Road to cater for a high number of truck turning movements.
- Reducing the proposed Ferry Road traffic island length by the railway line to enable sufficient manoeuvring into and out of this residential driveway.
- A south bound 1.5m wide cycle lane.
- The roundabout design to allow for safe truck turning movements.
- Discussions with KiwiRail on the shunting train schedule.
Next Steps
Marlborough Roads is committed to refining the roundabout design as best as we can, whilst also taking into account as far as practicable the feedback and concerns we’ve received. We’re also continuing to talk to and work with the Four Square owners on the land required from their property.
We anticipate lodging RMA applications in 2015 with the Marlborough District Council.
To keep up to date, keep on visiting this project website. If you have any further questions, please send us an email to spring-creek@nzta.govt.nz or phone us on 03 520 8330.
