NZTA senior safety engineer Steve James with Carterton resident Richard Stillwell, right, giving feedback on the NZTA speed review engagement. PHOTO/KAREN COLTMAN
KAREN COLTMAN
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New Zealand Transport Agency’s engagement sessions about State Highway 2 road safety improvements came to a close on Sunday at Solway Primary School in Masterton.
Hundreds of people took part in the sessions spanning Featherston, Greytown, Carterton, and Masterton over the past week.
At its session on Friday at the Greytown Library, pink, yellow, and green Post-It notes covered the map of the SH2 stretch of road from Featherston to Masterton.
About 40 people had written some of their ideas on them as well as filled out the consultation feedback forms.
A recurring theme on the notes and in conversation with NZTA staff was the call for a traffic bypass starting south of Greytown and coming out beyond the Carterton shopping area.
A supporter of the idea, Richard Stillwell said this would ease the “stop start” issue along the main road.
“It would be best to get the trucks off the road and for locals to be able to commute up and down a bypass road without being stuck behind shoppers and big, slow vehicles,” Stillwell said.
“People out of town will visit the shops and cafes as a destination but for locals to be held up by people parking and crossing the road can be dangerous.”
He said if more pedestrian crossings were introduced, the commute would take even more time.
Featherston’s drop-in session on Thursday attracted more than 300 people.
Some came with their children after school and others went in after getting off the train coming back from Wellington.
“It’s been great to hear from local people how they feel about speeds on the road, and to provide an update on other safety work we have under way for this corridor,” regional transport manager Mark Owen said.
He said it had been “awesome” to not only get feedback on NZTA proposals but to hear ideas and concerns from Wairarapa people.
NZTA was also seeking feedback on infrastructure improvements, including the two roundabouts, safety barriers, and 21 pedestrian crossings.
- NZTA has an online interactive map where people can click on an idea and make a comment about it.
- This is at: www.nzta.govt.nz/sh2-wairarapa.
