NUMBERED DAYS: The teardrop configuration at the Landing Road Bridge roundabout will be dismantled on Friday, but will return in mid-February to coincide with the Pekatahi Bridge’s refurbishment. Photo Louis Klaassen D4242-01
ON Friday, the free turn for commuters travelling across the Landing Road Bridge into Whakatane will come to a temporary end.
The barriers were used so only traffic entering from the west across the Landing Road Bridge could turn on to Landing Road and will be removed following the commuter period on Friday morning.
Implemented by the NZ Transport Agency and Whakatane District Council, the joint project was undertaken to evaluate whether peak travel time congestion issues at The Hub could be addressed by reconfiguring the bridge roundabout to provide right-of-way for eastbound traffic.
The purpose of the trial was to find a way to ease traffic pressure ahead of NZTA’s planned three-month maintenance closure of the Pekatahi Bridge on State Highway 2 from mid-February next year, which will route an extra 2000 vehicles per day through Whakatane, exacerbating the existing traffic congestion issues.
A report by Beca Consultants indicates the roundabout reconfiguration achieved an average travel time saving of between three and five minutes per vehicle entering Whakatane during the peak morning commute period, and lesser savings for both east- and west-bound traffic at other times of the day.
Council infrastructure general manager Tomasz Krawczyk said the cumulative travel time saving for the 1100 east-bound vehicles using the bridge during the peak commute period was in the order of 50-55 hours a day.
“If that saving is converted to a financial benefit, it equates to a total of approximately $150,000 each year,” he said.
Benefits and disadvantages of the trial were evaluated using continuous security cameras and traffic movement sensors on the routes into the Whakatane central business district. The outcome showed an extra two minutes in peak commute travel time for vehicles diverted across the bridge from the short western extension of Landing Road; and an additional one minute in travel time for the approximately 200 vehicles diverted from Hinemoa Street during the same period.
Mr Krawczyk said the monetary value of the disadvantages equated to about $12,000 a year.
“The evaluation report recommended that the roundabout reconfiguration be left in place until the end of the Pekatahi Bridge closure in May next year, but given the council’s commitment to a six-week trial period, and the limited opportunity for public consideration of a longer arrangement, the trial would conclude this week, as planned.
“The roundabout reconfiguration will be reintroduced when the bridge across SH2 closes to reduce the expected negative impacts on traffic congestion during the closure period. In the meantime, we’ll be working with NZTA to progress a business case that addresses the current congestion issues, the need for a second bridge, and the congestion at other key intersections in the Whakatane urban area.”
Mr Krawczyk said the barriers at the Landing Road roundabout would be dismantled after Friday morning’s commute period and signs warning drivers of the changes would be put in place.
He said formal community feedback on traffic congestion and potential solutions, including the possibility of continuing the tear-drop configuration for the roundabout beyond the Pekatahi Bridge closure period, would be sought as part of the council’s 2017-18 annual plan consultation process.