July 4, 2006

Council to consider permanent Onewa right turn bans

North Shore City Council is considering permanent right turn bans on Onewa Rd to make the morning commute safer and faster for drivers - and is seeking public feedback on the issue.

The council has been trialling the bans, which prevent vehicles turning right into Nutsey Ave and the BP service station, during the morning peak since late last year.

"We introduced the trial bans to stop people dodging traffic queues by heading west up Onewa Rd before doing a U-turn to head east towards the motorway," North Shore City's transport development manager, Kit O'Halloran, says.

"Not only did people doubling back in this way make the queues worse for other drivers, it was also dangerous, and we had seen several crashes as a result of people turning right in this situation, and colliding with traffic in the transit lane."

Surveys carried out since the ban was put in place have shown traffic is now flowing better on Onewa Rd - one of the busiest roads in North Shore City - and the number of crashes has dropped.

"Travel times have been reduced, sometimes by as much as 20 minutes, for people heading east along Onewa Rd in the morning peak, according to early survey results," Mr O'Halloran says.

"Our preferred option now is to make these bans permanent. We're also considering extending the time period slightly, from 6.30am-8.30am to 6.30am-9am, which would bring it in line with the operating hours of the transit lane.

"We understand that the bans inconvenience some people, such as parents and teachers accessing Northcote Primary School," he says.

"But we think the majority of users of Onewa Rd will benefit from permanent bans, and more importantly we want to prevent any more serious crashes, or deaths."

Local residents and users of Onewa Rd now have a chance to give feedback on the bans. Anyone wishing to have their say can contact the council on 486 8600, or go to www.northshorecity.govt.nz . Feedback forms will also be distributed to local residents and businesses.

ENDS

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