The temporary roundabout at Kenepuru Dr/Raiha St.
The Kenepuru Drive/Raiha St roundabout in Porirua is about to get an upgrade with work starting in early March to replace the temporary roundabout with permanent features. Work is expected to be completed by this winter.
Darrell Statham, Manager Transport, says the temporary roundabout replaced a T-junction and was installed in December 2020 as a trial, ahead of the completion of Transmission Gully and its connection to Kenepuru Drive.
“At the time there was a high level of uncertainty about the impacts from Transmission Gully and we wanted to see if a roundabout was the right way to go, with a view to making this a permanent feature if we could realise the expected safety and efficiency benefits.
“Since the roundabout has been in place, we are seeing fewer crashes and better traffic flows. Prior to the roundabout we had 19 crashes between 2015 and 2020 (12 non-injury crashes and seven minor crashes). Since its installation in late 2020, our data shows four non-injury crashes.
“Buses and trucks can now make turns smoothly, vehicle speeds have slowed and there is better access for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the intersection more easily and safely.”
As well as replacing the roundabout with a permanent mountable structure to make truck manoeuvrability easier, there will also be some other modifications, Darrell says.
“As part of the work, we’re also installing 3-metre-wide shared paths on Raiha St and the Raiha St side of Kenepuru Drive; raised tables to slow traffic and make it safer for pedestrians; a designated on-road cycle facility on Kenepuru Drive at the intersection; and making landscaping and lighting improvements.”
More information: poriruacity.govt.nz/kenepuru
27 Feb 2024
