NEWS RELEASE
23 October 2008
 
Big traffic restrictions on Guy Fawkes night
 
Significant traffic controls will be introduced on Oriental Parade and on Mt Victoria summit this Guy Fawkes night to avoid more of the traffic snarl-ups and delays for emergency services that have caused problems on 5 November in recent years.
 
General traffic will be restricted to one lane and one direction – eastbound away from the CBD - on Oriental Parade and Evans Bay Parade from 7pm to 10pm. This arrangement will allow emergency vehicles to move more quickly around Oriental Bay than in previous years when there has been gridlock on Guy Fawkes night.
 
Evans Bay Parade will be closed to through traffic (access to residents only) at the Cobham Drive intersection from 7pm to 10pm.
 
There’ll also be increased numbers of parking wardens on Oriental Parade – and vehicles illegally or dangerously parked will be towed away.
 
On Mt Victoria, Alexandra Road will be closed at the intersection with Constable Street in Newtown once Council staff have established that the maximum safe parking capacity towards the Mt Victoria summit has been reached.
 
A one-way traffic flow will temporarily be in place for the evening on the roads around the Mt Victoria Lookout – and there will be parking restrictions around the Lookout area and on Alexandra Road.
 
The Council’s Recreation Portfolio Leader, Councillor John Morrison, says Oriental Bay and the Mt Victoria summit are probably the most popular vantage points for the Pelorous Trust Sky Show – the massive fireworks display watched each Guy Fawkes night by an estimated 150,000 people around the harbour.
 
“This year, after discussions with Police, Fire and the Free Ambulance, we’ve decided we’ll put the ‘full house’ signs up on Mt Vic, and cut back traffic on Oriental Parade. It’ll just make things far more bearable for everyone – especially the emergency services.”
 
Cr Morrison says that in previous years the driving and parking, especially on Mt Victoria, has in many cases, “verged on the lunatic”.
 
“Many people seem to lose their sense of perspective. On Mt Victoria it becomes like teenagers trying to cram into a Volkswagen to break a record – except it’s far less fun.
 
“Our advice for people wanting a good vantage point around the Bay, or up on the top of Mt Vic, is drive and park early, take a bus – or walk.”
 
ends
 
 

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