Changes Coming to Busy Pedestrian Crossings

Greater safety is coming to two busy pedestrian crossings in New Plymouth.

Signalised traffic lights will be installed at the crossings on Powderham Street outside the police station, and on Devon Street West outside Devon Intermediate.

The development is a Let’s Go and New Zealand Transport Agency initiative to improve safety for people walking, riding and driving.

“The immediate area around both crossings will also be modified to address a couple of other safety issues,” says Let’s Go Project Manager Carl Whittleston.

“There is a history of nose to tail vehicle crashes at the Powderham Street crossing, and it’s also not considered best practice to have an ordinary pedestrian crossing on a one-way street.

“The crossing outside Devon Intermediate will be safer with traffic lights, and there is a history of accidents with vehicles hitting those waiting to turn right onto Lorna Street that we’ll also address by creating a right-turn bay.”

The bus stop outside the school will be moved further up the road and shifted into the roadside berm.

The existing Powderham Street pedestrian crossing will be removed, with the new signalised crossing installed a little further west. The works will be designed so that the cycle lane continues uninterrupted outside the police station through to the BP station where previously there was no cycle lane.

These new signalised crossings will be similar to those in Westown and outside Centre City.

Construction will take about two months with work on the first site starting in August.