Cr Josh Wharehinga agreed that traffic had improved but he had heard elderly pedestrians were crossing the road with great difficulty. He asked for pedestrian data to be included when the issue was discussed by the operations committee.
Councillors Debbie Gregory and Meredith Akuhata-Brown made similar comments about improved traffic flow and issues for elderly pedestrians.
The staff report before councillors said the worse-case scenario for the cost of repairs was $130,000.
The temporary roundabout would remain in place for at least another two months, it said.
If the cost turned out to be above $100,000, the council would be at a “tipping point” as to whether to instal a “small, drivable roundabout” with raised tables for pedestrians, or to repair the traffic signals.
Gisborne has one set of operating traffic lights on the Gladstone Road-Peel Street intersection.
Asked if Gisborne needed two sets of traffic lights for those trying to pass their driving licence test, council director of lifelines David Wilson said he had been unable to ascertain if that was correct.
The Gladstone Road-Peel Street traffic lights were Gisborne's first traffic lights and were installed in May 1964, accompanied by much public fanfare and fascination.
2XG radio announcer Johnny Shearer held his breakfast show 31 feet up a nearby, unused power pole as motorists negotiated the lights for the first time.
The intersection was previously controlled by a traffic policeman.
Mr Shearer was helped up the pole by a crane from Monk Bros and assisted down three hours later by firefighters.
He was surrounded by excited school children when he landed safely on terra firma.
