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Major safety works to begin on Manukau Road

Tuesday 22 September 2009, 9:09AM

By Manukau City Council

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PUKEKOHE

A major roading safety project that will change Pukekohe’s busy Manukau Road is about to commence.

 

The intersections at Wrightsons Way (the Mega Centre entrance) and Nelson Street will be converted to roundabouts, with work starting on 28 September.

 

A raised solid median strip will also be constructed between the two roundabouts so that vehicles use the roundabouts to turn across the road. There will be a pedestrian access point through the median strip.

 

Franklin District Council GM Works and Services Barry Bergin says, “This is a major safety initiative due to the increasingly high volumes of traffic on Manukau Road. Turning across this extremely busy road is now simply too dangerous and safety measures must be installed.”

 

“While the median strips may inconvenience some people until they learn to use the roundabouts for access to the other side of the road, this project is simply imperative for people’s safety. During peak traffic times there are less than two seconds between vehicles on this road, with traffic trying to turn across this. There have been accidents and pedestrian near misses so precautions needed to be taken.”

 

This is the first stage of a major facelift for Manukau Road. Traffic signals (lights) will be installed at the Manukau Road/Massey Avenue/East Street/Stadium Drive intersection. Work will begin in January 2011 to coincide with reduced traffic flows during the school holiday period. A median strip will also be constructed along portions of Manukau Road from this intersection to Nelson Street as a safety measure, however there will be certain access points to cross the road. Proposed design work is currently being completed and community consultation will begin in early 2010.

 

The contractor will have completed the Wrightson Way – Nelson Street works by 4 December in time for the busy Christmas period.