Traffic Signals on Highgate

Dunedin (Tuesday, 1 July 2014) – A pedestrian crossing on a busy city road is about to become safer for school children and traffic.

The Dunedin City Council is installing traffic signals on Highgate at the existing pedestrian crossing between Selkirk and Fifield Streets.

DCC Senior Traffic Engineer Ron Minnema says, “The risk to individual pedestrians in Dunedin is the second highest risk in the country and this is one small step towards improving that position. Our Integrated Transport Strategy also has a focus on improving safety near schools, a focus we take seriously.”

The signals are being installed because community feedback and DCC research indicate the traffic immediately before and after school hours is placing pedestrians and those supervising the pedestrian crossing at risk. There have been a number of near misses involving motorists who are legally required to give way to people using the pedestrian crossing, but have failed to do so.

“The continuous stream of traffic during these periods often does not stop to allow people to cross safely. There are also often many small groups crossing separately, disrupting traffic and causing driver frustration.”

The signals will remain green unless a pedestrian has pressed the button to activate the pedestrian phase. During periods when traffic flows are heavy, pedestrians wishing to use the signalised crossing may experience delays of up to 40 seconds between successive pedestrian phases.

The signals are scheduled to be installed between 7 July and 11 August 2014 as part of a package of road safety works being undertaken around the city. It is hoped some of the work will occur in the school holidays to minimise risk and disruption to traffic.

Mr Minnema says, “During the commissioning of any traffic project, there is a slight increase in risk as road users get used to the new layout and adjust their behaviour. We, and the Police, will be monitoring the area to ensure people understand what they are supposed to do. We will also work closely with Kaikorai Primary School and its walking school bus and will be using temporary traffic management tools such as bollards to highlight the changed Businesses in Roslyn have been advised of the changes and letters sent to residents in the
affected part of Highgate. The work is expected to cost $103,700.

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