Hamilton intersection a worry for councillor

Temporary signage and road cones have gone up at the Thomas Rd/Gordonton Intersection to slow drivers down.

Despite emergency work being undertaken to reduce speeds at the Thomas Rd/Gordonton Rd intersection, another crash happened at the spot on Tuesday.

Police were called to the crash at 4.20pm where there were reports of vehicles blocking the road and two injured people were in a moderate condition.

On Friday last week temporary signs and cones were set up along the road to slow drivers down to 60km/h from 80km/h when coming up to the intersection after a man was critically injured in a crash at the intersection last week.

In the wake of these serious accidents city councillor James Casson says the speed limit should be dropped permanently.

"I believe the entire length of Gordonton Road from Wairere roundabout up to Borman Road should see the speed taken down to about 60km/h ," Cr Casson said. "People will be unhappy about the longer time taken to travel and maybe travel congestion, but that is a small price to pay for people's safety."

"I've been to enough traffic accidents in my life and seen enough dead bodies to not want that anymore. I'm a councillor now, not a police officer, and I don't want to see that stuff happen."

The issue has been drivers from the 50km/h Thomas Rd joining faster traffic on Gordonton Rd.

Councillor Casson has spent time standing on the side of the road in the early mornings holding a sign telling people to take care and give way.

Work is currently scheduled for mid October for variable speed signs along Gordonton Road which Cr Casson believes is a good start.

"Any vehicle coming out of Thomas Road or heading up Thomas Road will trigger the speed from 80km/h down to 60km/h and it will give people time to slow down."

"I think that is a good solution as the roading engineers come up with a plan."

Ideas currently on the table include putting a roundabout or a set of traffic lights at the intersection.

"I think what they are looking at is putting a roundabout there, but they are also hoping that the bypass up near Borman road would take pressure off Gordonton Road."

"That won't be finished until 2019, and we can't afford to wait that long."

Cr Casson said that implementing all these safety precautions is only half the fix and that it is on drivers to also play their part.

"Even if it's a 60km/h area you'll still get people going at 80km/h, 100 km/h. You cannot control people's driving unless you have a police officer standing there 24/7. You can't."
The city council will discuss the intersection in further detail at the Growth and Infrastructure meeting on October 24.