Ron Morriss and his neighbours are getting the runaround on Kensington roads with planned NZ Transport Agency intersection improvements in Whangarei.
They are upset because the intersection changes will make it more difficult for them to drive in and out of their properties.
Mr Morriss and his neighbours live on a section of Western Hills Drive/State Highway One from which only left turns into north-bound traffic will be possible once a roundabout is installed at the intersection of SH1 and Kensington Ave.
And they will have to change the routes they drive once solid, raised median barriers are installed between Kensington Ave and Manse St, stopping Mr Morriss, his neighbours and Russell Rd motorists from the right turns they now make to go into the city via SH1 and Selwyn Ave.
Getting home will also be less direct, with access via a left turn into SH1 from Kensington Ave or a right turn from Manse St ruled out by the raised barriers preventing them crossing SH1.
Heading south on SH1, they can turn right into either William or Douglas streets by the Kensington Stadium and get on to the northern end of Russell Rd, but Mr Morriss fears a narrow bridge on that route.
He approves of the planned Kensington Ave roundabout, but believes the median barriers to be installed between Kensington Ave and Manse St are not required.
"There have been traffic accidents at the bottom of the hill, but none further up where I have been living for 15 years," he said.
His neighbour, 81-year-old Reg Hammond, agreed the coming ban on right turns was "stupid" and he wasn't looking forward to "circling around" to get home in the future. But he knew of a couple of accidents on the hill in his 12 years living there - he'd been involved in one of the crashes.
NZTA regional asset manager Steve Mutton said the agency understood that improvements in a developed urban area had an impact on local residents.
"We are happy to discuss the concerns raised by Mr Morriss or any other residents individually.
"An example of an alternative route in this instance could be using Russell Rd.
"Also, Mr Morriss would be able to use the new Kensington Ave roundabout when heading south from his property, which would be a safer alternative than the current right turn out movement when exiting his property."
Proposed safety improvements at Manse St would require the removal of right turn-in and right turn-out movements due to the construction of a raised barrier separating opposing traffic on SH1 at that intersection.