08/09/2005

White lines no go for Waipapa

There will not be white lines on Waipapa Rd any time soon.
But there will be improvements made to the road after motorists raised concerns about its condition. Last month, a petition of about 700 signatures was presented to Otorohanga District Council outlining concerns over the road`s width and condition.
Co-ordinated by Arohena residents Judy Sherriff and Maria Blackwell, the petition asked council to consider widening and painting white edge lines on the road.
The submitters also asked council to consider installing 'cats eye' markers and additional marker posts to improve visibility at night, and in poor conditions.
"Waipapa Rd is a major connection route linking the north from Te Awamutu to Mangakino and Taupo in the south.
"This road has been advertised as an alternative route to SH1 and should be maintained to an acceptable standard. It is extremely dangerous driving at night as the edges of the road are so ill defined.
"Waipapa Rd has white lines from Te Awamutu to Wharepapa South and from Waipapa Dam to Mangakino but the 26kms in between has no white edge lines," the petition stated.
At a council meeting last week, engineering manager Dave Clibbery presented a report on the issue. He said that while Waipapa Rd was relatively narrow, it was not considered a significant safety risk. LTSA records show that during the past 15 years, 14 accidents had been recorded on the section of road in question.
Two accidents were associated with narrow road width.
Mr Clibbery compared Waipapa Rd to 14 other similar sections of road in the district that also do not have edge markings, including Mangaorongo Rd, Old Te Kuiti Rd, Ouruwhero Rd, Phillips Ave, Waikeria Rd and sections of Rangiatea Rd.
"The issues identified on this road are found on many other roads in the district, and the recorded accident rate on Waipapa Rd is relatively low," he said.
"There does not appear to be any particular, objective factor that indicates the need for widening and edge marking on Waipapa Rd is greater than on these other roads."
He said marking white edge lines would not be appropriate for several reasons.
This included the fact white lines would be inconsistent with the approach being adopted by Waipa District Council on a northern section of the road, they would be contrary to the standards previously adopted by council and they would "at best represent an attempt to treat the symptoms of a perceived problem rather than the cause".
"I don't think white lines are the answer."
However, Mr Clibbery said some work should be carried out to improve Waipapa Rd.
Council has already invited tenders for widening a 1.2km section of the road.
Once this has been completed there will still be a remaining 1.3km section that, with a width of 6m, would also require widening.
Mr Clibbery suggested council include these sections in their road improvement programme, providing a Land Transport subsidy can be obtained.
"Let's just put it in there and then council can prioritise it as they see fit."
He also said that because council had previously indicated they would be installing'cats eyes' markers on a 7km section of road, this commitment should go ahead.
"This undertaking should be honoured with a likely initial cost of $4000 and a subsequent annual maintenance cost of about $2000," he said.
The 7km section will run from the boundary with Taupo District Council to the intersection of Taupaki Rd.
Mr Clibbery, mayor Dale Williams and councillors thanked the submitters for their petition. "I'm grateful to the submitters. I think they did a fantastic job," said Mr Williams.