A pensioner's campaign to improve pedestrian safety on one of Wanganui's busiest thoroughfares is being taken seriously by the roading experts.
Pensioner Ray Osborne gets about on a mobility scooter and regularly has to cross Great North Rd to get to and from the St John's Hill shops.
He told the NZ Transport Agency people were crossing a busy state highway without any of the protection afforded by a pedestrian crossing.
David McGonigal, NZTA's regional highways manager, said yesterday the agency had agreed to undertake a safety review of this location "in the near future".
Great North Rd is a section of SH3 and all state highways fall under the management of NZTA.
"We were not previously aware of this location being a busy or high-risk crossing spot, but it's important we undertake the review to ensure we can observe it in action," Mr McGonigal told the Chronicle.
The review will look at pedestrian counts, traffic speeds, the safety record of the location, how well the area is serviced by other nearby crossing facilities, and whether other measures would be appropriate. Those other measures could include pedestrian "refuges" or signs.
"We will also need to consider how this location compares to other safety priorities, to ensure we are investing where we can get the most safety benefits for the community," he said.
Mr McGonigal said NZTA always worked collaboratively with the Wanganui District Council in regard to pedestrian safety because the council understood local pedestrian movements. NZTA would involve them in the investigation.
He said the agency also wanted to thank Mr Osborne for his strong interest in pedestrian safety.
Mr Osborne, a resident at nearby Jane Winstone retirement village, told the Chronicle that while some drivers were courteous "the majority don't stop" for anyone trying to cross Great North Rd.
"A friend of mine lives in a similar Ryman village in Hamilton, and that's on a very busy by-pass road. But similar concerns there have seen a crossing put in place, one controlled by traffic lights.
"If they can get that done up there, what's the problem with the authorities down this way that we can't get something done?" he said.
"I've got a son-in-law who drives trucks and regularly uses this stretch of road. But he said further north, in Eltham for example, they've got a number of pedestrian crossings on that bit of SH3.
"This is just a matter of slapping a few painted white lines on the road and putting up some poles alerting traffic that it's a proper crossing. How hard is that?" Mr Osborne said.