The installation of a new signalised crossing point on Wānaka’s Aubrey Road near the Holy Family School began last week and marks the start of the council’s Schools to Pool (S2P) project.

Stage one of the active transport project begins at the Holy Family School and includes a pedestrian activated, signalised crossing of Aubrey Road between the school and Kelly’s Flat reserve as well as a raised crossing at the intersection of Rata and Aubrey Roads.

Stages two and three will extend the S2P network around Kelly’s Flat reserve, behind Wānaka Primary School classrooms, through Mount Aspiring College, across Plantation Road, Lismore Park and down to Hedditch Street.

Stage four will cross State Highway 84 to bring track users onto Ballantyne Road. A second signalised crossing point will be installed across Ballantyne Road as stage five of the S2P which will then lead into Three Parks.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) deputy mayor Quentin Smith said he was sure “the community will be grateful for the start of the S2P project and a safe crossing of Aubrey Road that they have long advocated for” and golfers will be pleased to have a safe crossing of Ballantyne Road.

The S2P project was first identified by the community in 2017 and Active Transport Wānaka has been pushing for council support and funding for years. 

More recently, the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) agreed to jointly fund S2P.

According to council documents, stage one was meant to have begun last year but was delayed to incorporate raised safety platforms (RSPs) at the signalised crossing points.

The raised safety platform in stage one will cost $54k and although RSPs are a common sight around Wānaka (lower Ardmore Street, Sir Tim Wallis Drive) this will be the first time they have been used in conjunction with signalised crossings.

RSPs are promoted by NZTA but are not a mandatory requirement for funding on low speed, urban council roads, such as Aubrey Road. However, RSPs are considered best practice and NZTA commended the QLDC for applying high safety standards with these planned crossings.

“Raised safety platforms will increasingly become the norm as they improve safety outcomes,” NZTA regional relationships director James Caygill said.

Stage one is scheduled to be completed around June this year, QLDC media spokesperson Sam White said, but work on some future stages remains subject to funding and necessary approvals.

S2P is jointly funded by NZTA and the QLDC, with NZTA contributing $255,000 and the QLDC paying the lion’s share, Sam said. Stage one alone will cost just over $1M.

The first crossing will be accompanied by a shared pathway and signage that will be consistent with the rest of the route as work progresses in future stages through Kelly’s Flat Recreation Reserve up to Wānaka Primary School and Mount Aspiring College, Sam said.

A full schedule showing the complete route and approximate timings for each stage will be available on the council’s website soon.

PHOTO: Wānaka App