Better visibility for motorists and new crossings for pedestrians are among measures to make Champion St safer.
Safety improvements begin on the busy eastern Porirua road this month, with the main aim to improve safety for pedestrians and slow traffic.
New markings and signage will also go up on the Hereford, Cornwall and Gloucester intersections.
Consultation letters were hand-delivered to residents in the area late last year, and consultation was further promoted through the Council’s website and on Facebook.
Luke Benner, Traffic and Road Safety Engineer at the Council, says the changes will enhance safety. There will be only minimal inconvenience at the western end of Champion St near Windley St, where workers will be digging up the kerb lines.
“It’s important to accommodate other modes of transport besides vehicles, and make sure our more vulnerable users such as cyclists and pedestrians moving through to eastern Porirua will be safe,” Mr Benner says.
As an arterial road carrying around 8500 vehicles a day, there is a high risk of further crashes occurring as traffic volumes increase with the Government’s development of housing in the area, he says.
Champion St is also a key bus route between Porirua CBD and eastern Porirua. Several informal crossing points are being constructed to improve access for residents using the current bus stops. The crossings will be built out, shortening the distance and time taken to cross the road.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says with the housing work in eastern Porirua, Council wants to pre-empt future traffic issues and make sure people are well protected.
“It’s important to maximise safety on this busy stretch of road which is being used more and more by our residents travelling to and from this part of our city,” she says.
The work is expected to be completed by early January.
10 Nov 2020
