$8m cycleway to cut crashes
Authorities hope installing concrete safety barriers and switching a cycleway to the other side of the road will help turn around Dunedin’s high rate of crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians.
Six cyclists and pedestrians have died in crashes in the city centre between 2013 and 2017, while 110 were seriously injured.
The city has one of the highest rates in the South Island of serious injury or death for cyclists and pedestrians per hours walking or riding, and nationally ranks seventh out of 73 local councils for the number of crashes involving pedestrians and 10th for cyclists.
In an effort to reduce the risk, the NZ Transport Agency is installing new separated cycleways along State Highway 1 as it passes through the central city on two one-way streets.
The city has one of the highest rates in the South Island of serious injury or death for cyclists and pedestrians per hours walking or riding.
The $8 million revamp includes building concrete traffic islands and is designed to make it safer for cyclists.
Jon Keyzer, of Spokes Dunedin, said the cycling advocacy group worked closely with the agency on the final design.
It was not a ‘‘complete solution’’, but would be a marked improvement, he said.
‘‘The design is in line with best practices worldwide, and though Dunedin faces some special challenges from the high volume and wide array of road users that share SH1, the implemented final design will be a crucial step toward making Dunedin a safer and more connected community.’’
It was important for the Dunedin City Council to link the new cycleways with arterial routes ‘‘that render bikes as a safe and attractive option for getting around’’, Keyzer said.
NZ Transport Agency projects team manager Simon Underwood urged motorists to be extra vigilant while the road markings were changed.
The new cycleway will move from the left to the right-hand side of the highway, except on Cumberland St between Howe and Albany streets.
In total, 130 parking bays would be reintroduced on the one-way system, with priority given to short-stay car parks near existing businesses, and parking near Dunedin Hospital, Otago Museum and Otago University, Underwood said.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.