St Hill St cycling lights a first for Whanganui

Active transport facilitator Norman Gruebsch, cyclists Jeremy Gabriel and Michaella Laird, consultant Bill Simmons and senior roading engineer Rui Leitao test the new traffic lights at St Hill St.

Whanganui's first traffic lights for cyclists have been installed on the intersection of St Hill St and Ridgway St.

The new lights form part of the Te Tuaiwi pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, which runs the length of St Hill St where lights will also be installed at the Ingestre St and Taupō Quay intersections.

Whanganui District Council senior roading engineer Rui Leitao said the lights will work more efficiently and create a safe corridor for cyclists while pedestrians will no longer be able to cross diagonally.

Cyclists will need to push a cycle button to activate the signal sequence while sensors beneath the shared pathway – similar to those for vehicles – give cyclists and pedestrians an extra 5-15 seconds to cross ahead of turning vehicles.

Pedestrian and cycle crossing lanes have also been clearly marked to separate cyclists from pedestrians.

Mr Leitao said designated right-turning lanes have been painted on the roadway and left and right turning arrows have been installed.

Meanwhile, the footpath on the Royal Wanganui Opera House side of St Hill St has been resealed and special decorative paving laid outside the entrances to the opera house and Cooks Gardens.

Work currently under way at the intersection of Guyton St and St Hill St to upgrade traffic signals and extend the kerb on the shared pathway is expected to be completed towards the end of June.

Diagonal crossing will also be removed from this intersection.

By August, traffic signals will be installed at the Taupō Quay/St Hill Street intersection to provide safe, direct access to the Whanganui River for shared pathway users.