'Significant concerns' raised in Green Corridor safety audit

PHOTO/FILE

A report into safety issues regarding Rotorua's controversial Green Corridor has been released revealing some significant concerns with parts of the original route.

The report, dated November 24 last year, was produced by Robinson Transportation Consulting of Mt Maunganui and was done after the Green Corridor was officially opened on October 8.

The majority of the report's recommendations have now been actioned by the Rotorua Lakes Council, apart from minor changes to directional signage and "share with care" issues, seven inner city Green Corridor crossings were painted red and four were converted to pedestrian crossings with red and white stripes.

Along with issues and inconsistencies with signage and road markings across the entire route, the report found "significant" problems with unprotected bicycle crossings on Pukuatua St and Ranolf St.

With regard to Pukuatua St, the report stated the original green painted route across the street "tends to give a false impression to cyclists and perhaps pedestrians that they have priority over motor vehicles, when legally the opposite is true".

The issue was similar on the Ranolf St crossing with the report recommending red and white pedestrian crossings be installed or the green painted road markings removed.

The corridor caters for pedestrians, cyclists, roller skaters, skateboarders and mobility scooters. It connects the central city to cycleways to the east and west of the city as well as the national cycleway - Te Ara Ahi - to the south.

In November last year the Rotorua Daily Post reported the corridor had gone $45,000 over budget. The final cost of the corridor was $442,000, with the New Zealand Transport Agency paying $227,000.

An additional estimated $15,000 was spent on safety measures installed last weekend.

- For a full report read tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post.