NZTA modified a speed hump in Kawakawa after concerns raised at the transport committee. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya
A Kawakawa speed hump criticised by motorists and discussed at a recent Regional Transport Committee meeting has been modified after concerns over its design and impact on vehicles.
At a recent transport committee meeting, concerns were raised with New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) about the abruptness of the speed hump which was deemed unreasonable for state highway traffic.
The committee agenda read that NZTA confirmed that a “design mistake” was made with the gradient and that the speed hump would be replaced. The Moerewa traffic-calming device was cited as an effective example with the committee suggesting this design is more appropriate.
NZTA confirmed that reinstatement works were carried out overnight between May 11 and 12.
NZTA Northland journey manager Kingston Brands said the speed hump pre-dated recent NZTA works and was not originally designed or constructed by NZTA.
“As part of the SH1 resurfacing through Kawakawa, NZTA reinstated existing traffic calming features on a like-for-like basis, with members of the local community seeking assurance that it would be reinstated following completion of the works.”
“An agreed design was developed to ensure the reinstated raised safety platform safely reduced vehicle speeds while minimising noise and vibration effects for nearby residents. Following construction, NZTA identified that the approach ramps had not been built to the agreed design, and the contractor was directed to correct this at their own cost.”
The corrective work involved extending the approach ramps from approximately 1m to 2m to align with the NZTA best practice design for these types of treatments on the state highway network, he said.
“This will provide a smoother transition for vehicles while maintaining the intended traffic-calming effect. NZTA is applying the same design philosophy that has been successfully used at Moerewa.”
While he did not confirm the number of complaints he said feedback from road users contributed to the issue being identified and reviewed.
Regional Transport Committee chairman Joe Carr said the committee’s concerns centred around the abruptness of the speed hump.
“The Moerewa speed hump incorporates significant traffic calming measures in its designs that enables a non-aggressive speed hump. It is very effective at slowing traffic down without undue stress on vehicle suspensions.”
Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board member Roddy Pihema, who represents the Kawakawa-Moerewa subdivision said that while there had been widespread complaints about the hump, the community still supported having some form of speed mitigation at the entrance to town.
“If we don’t have some type of speed mitigation on the road, people continue to speed through here.”
He said the area was particularly busy because of pedestrian activity, nearby businesses, St John ambulance service, tourists and the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway running through the town centre.
“This is a tourist destination town, so it’s not just about keeping Kawakawa safe, it’s also about those visitors too.”
Resident Kevin Davidson said he believed the speed hump had created problems for motorists and nearby residents like himself.
He said the hump contributed to trailers and boats becoming dislodged from vehicles and said traffic bunching up near the hump made it difficult for residents on either side to enter the highway safely.
“All the cars come in, they slow down to go over the hump and off the other side they come through with even spacing, so we can’t get out onto the road. there are no big gaps in the traffic. The speed hump has actually affected access by the roads adjacent to it.”
He said a roundabout at the Rayner St intersection would be a better long-term solution.
“That would mean that Kawakawa would have a roundabout at both ends. So it would stop the people from doing U-turns in the middle of the main street of Kawakawa which has been a problem there.”
“They would be able to drive south around the south roundabout to come back the other way or go north to the north roundabout go around it come back going south. So in an engineering sense that’s the better way to do it.”
NZTA said there was currently no roundabout project for the State Highway 1 / Rayner St intersection.