Chicanes to Calm Traffic in Montgomery Avenue

Two sets of chicanes will be installed in Dargaville’s Montgomery Avenue to slow traffic speeds which have been concerning residents.

They will be near the crown of the first rise plus the bottom of the dip at the Huia Crescent intersection and will feature kerbings on the road’s sides and centre. Construction is likely to be during August.

Speed in the street has been the subject of a large number of requests to Kaipara District Council, including a 30 signature petition, with concerns focusing on traffic rounding a sharp corner after coming over the crown of a hill which creates poor visibility. The problem has been compounded by the straight wide street leading up to this point.

Council initially proposed building chicanes in the street but at a meeting of residents a number indicated that they preferred speed platforms like those in Victoria Street. However, these are considered undesirable in residential streets as they can damage low riding vehicles and tempt “racers” to try to get airborne, so Council agreed at its July meeting to proceed with chicanes.

Northern Roading Portfolio holder, Councillor Richard Alspach says Montgomery Avenue is the most urgent case in Dargaville for ‘traffic calming’ measures and while speed humps would not be suitable, he is hopeful the chicanes will have the desired effect.

Mr Alspach says Council receives requests for traffic calming measures from all over Kaipara but has previously adopted a cautious approach for a variety of reasons, including the availability of effective measures and the risk of simply shifting a problem to another street.

But Council will be watching the results in Montgomery Avenue with interest as the installation there could be followed by others around the district. However, the high cost means they are unlikely to become common.

Dargaville Councillor Brian Burnett is pleased that the many concerns expressed by residents are being addressed.

“Montgomery Avenue will now hopefully be relieved of the hoon element amongst drivers who have been speeding up and down that street, placing other road users and pedestrians in danger,” he says.

“I am assured that these traffic calming measures will restore Montgomery Avenue to legal speed limits again and commend residents for their persistence in having this problem addressed.”