Waipawa's bumpy ride to a safer road

There's been a temporary bump in the road in Waipawa since June this year. Photo / Warren Buckland

Waipawa businesses that watched Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency install temporary speed bumps on State Highway 2 through the town are growing to love the lurching yellow lumps.

High St, a section of State Highway 2 that winds through Waipawa, has been host to temporary speed bumps for the past five months.

The speed bumps, along with a 30 km per hour speed limit, were initially installed by Waka Kotahi NZTA on the section of State Highway 2 after a Four Square fire in June.

The 30km/h speed limit has since been removed, but the bumps remain, to a local businesses' delight.

Nola Cafe owner Sharron Hales said the speed bumps were a positive addition to a street that is "a recipe for disaster".

"It's made a huge difference to road safety having the speed bumps there, it's also made a difference to trade, making people slow down and look in.

"Everything has slowed down quite dramatically, but people have to slow down. We have senior customers that are at risk when crossing that stretch of road and it's dangerous for school kids too," Hales said.

Central Hawke's Bay district councillor Pip Burne said that when talking to retailers, she's realised how dangerous the stretch of road really is.

"Whilst the speed bumps are frustrating for some and we do not see them as a long-term solution, they have been effective at slowing people down," Burne said.

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Waka Kotahi NZTA installed the speed bumps as a safety precaution for workers and road users during the local Four Square's demolition.

Waka Kotahi regional maintenance and operations manager Jaclyn Hankin confirmed that the speed bumps are only a "temporary" measure.

"However Waka Kotahi is working with Central Hawkes Bay District Council to look at the future infrastructure requirements for this section of SH2.

"We are currently analysing traffic and crash data to inform any possible changes, along with CHBDC's long-term spatial plan," Hankin said.

Central Hawke's Bay mayor Alex Walker said that although the speed bumps are not a practical permanent solution, they have indicated that intervention is effective.

"We need a proper long-term solution and I am hopeful that Waka Kotahi NZTA will bring forward some funding to allow us to do a proper long-term redesign.

"It has been possible to reduce speed and improve safety in other 'SH2 Towns' like Carterton and Featherston by utilising things like raised pedestrian crossings so I expect Waipawa should be entitled to similar attention," Walker said.

Councillor Burne suggested that a speed camera, a raised zebra crossing, or a lowered speed limit could be among the options for a permanent solution.

"I urge Waka Kotahi to come and talk to retailers and the community here. It's a real issue and there are a lot of options available to make the road safer.

"Waka Kotahi are the experts, but something needs to be done," Burne said.