Otaki roundabout improvements working

22 June 2008

Otaki MP Darren Hughes says the first weekend of the new double-laned roundabout at Otaki has been a success.

"The enormous growth of the town's retail sector has created holdups on State Highway 1, particularly on long weekends.

"That's why I worked with the Community Board to secure $600,000 to turn the roundabout into double lanes north and south, in an attempt to improve traffic flow."

Mr Hughes said that Transit had completed enough of the project last week in order for the new lanes to open on Friday.

"I had a number of opportunities to observe the roundabout at different times over the weekend and am pleased at how quickly motorists have adapted."

The project was funded from the Land Transport Fund, where money collected from petrol taxes goes to pay for roading projects.

"With the worldwide explosion in fuel prices, one consolation is that we are continuing to see projects in our electorate being completed with money from petrol taxes."

Darren Hughes said the next priority was to create extra off-street parking spaces and to advertise them to motorists.

"I think a lot of the problem at weekends comes from cars slowing down looking or waiting for a park. Extra parking at the railway station with vastly improved signage is what we need next."

Mr Hughes said he understood new parking spaces will be available soon.

ENDS

© Scoop Media