Fallout has continued over the placement of a new crossing and traffic lights on Ardmore Street, between the Ballantyne Road/SH84 intersection and the Caltex roundabout.

The traffic lights are being installed to provide a safe crossing for school students as part of the Schools to Pools route connecting schools to the Wānaka Recreation Centre at Three Parks.

Some locals raised concerns in June that the lights and traffic crossing - which are about 60m from the busy roundabout - are too close, questioning their practicality and safety. 

Now Queenstown Lakes District councillor Barry Bruce has spoken out about the location for the crossing.

“I am immensely frustrated the crossing and lights have been installed without any consultation or sign off from elected members,” he told the Wānaka App. 

Elected representatives Barry Bruce and Quentin Smith. PHOTOS: Supplied, Wānaka App

“Restricting right turning traffic into Ballantyne Road is problematic during peak periods and the potential for emergency vehicle thoroughfare delays does not seem to have been adequately addressed before this construction proceeded.”

While Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) yesterday stated the council consulted with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) engineers and the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) on the new crossing and its location, Barry emphatically denied that.

Barry added that he had met with a number of affected parties who were not consulted and received minimal communication regarding the roading changes.

His preference is to reconsider other crossing alternatives with a view to removing the traffic lights, he said.

Retired Auckland city traffic engineer Graham Dickson told the Wānaka App he was surprised the design was approved by QLDC and NZTA.

He pointed out that the centre-to-centre distance between the roundabout and the Ballantyne Road intersection is only 90m, while the between-the-intersection limits is only around 60m, “which will lead to queue lengths of about two cars before the adjoining intersection are blocked with resultant congestion”. 

Graham was also concerned that there will be three different types of intersection control: signals, a T intersection, and a roundabout. “Roundabouts work with continuous flows, signals give tight platoons. These can be incompatible,” he said.

NZTA, QLDC anticipated ‘negative impacts’

Documents and correspondence obtained by the Wānaka App via a Local Government Official Information Act (LGOIMA) request shows that QLDC and NZTA debated the pros and cons of the chosen site.

A feasibility report prepared by Stantec NZ for QLDC in June 2023 concluded that representatives from NZTA and QLDC agreed that “although there were likely to be some negative impacts on road user delays, the safety benefits to active travel path users of a [mid-block] signalised crossing would outweigh those impacts”. 

“The inclusion of a raised safety platform with the signals was considered desirable to help reduce speeds in the vicinity of the crossing and would be in line with Road to Zero recommended treatments,” the report said.

“The workshop did then further discuss the position of the crossing point and it was agreed that two locations should be investigated further and a final assessment presented for agreement.” 

No further report was provided as part of the LGOIMA request.

A Stantec transportation team leader advised NZTA in January this year that: “Yes there will be negative impacts with potential queuing through the roundabout but the chosen option is considered the best at this point in time, although not the ideal layout.”

“The visibility from Ballantyne Rd intersection is good and speeds should be slow but there are still some risks there too. A safety system audit is also being completed so will cover any other major safety concerns with the design.”

Council responds

Deputy mayor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App this week the council was implementing a much-requested active transport network, which is being delivered “according [to] design guidelines and by qualified transport engineers”.

In a statement put out by QLDC yesterday (Wednesday August 7), QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the crossing point over SH84 was a critical part of creating a safe connection children could use to move between local schools and the Wānaka Recreation Centre.

“These new traffic lights will provide children with a designated place to safely cross this busy State Highway, but we acknowledge they may create minor delays for vehicles at peak times around town,” he said.

“I’d encourage all drivers to take a bit of extra care once these new pedestrian crossing lights are activated, especially at times when children are heading to and from school and while we all get used to this change near Wānaka’s town centre.”

Crews are expected to test the signals next Monday (August 12), before they’re activated the following Monday around midday.

Read more: Concerns raised about new traffic lights near roundabout