ICC Master Plan – No Short Term Solution for Heavy Traffic Bypass
Discussions are underway between roading experts to look at easing heavy traffic movements into Invercargill and the city centre, as part of the council’s Master Plan.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has been involved with the ICC regarding plans to divert heavy truck movements out of the city centre away from the state highways.
ICC roading manager Russell Pearson said, the city doesn’t have a heavy traffic bypass for trucks on State Highway 1 going to Bluff other than through the city centre.
“Part of the Master Plan highlighted that some of the high volume traffic (on Tay and Dee Streets) just drives through and doesn’t stop, and heavy trucks aren’t always the best mix for the environment that we are looking to work toward.”
Dee Street currently has a heavy traffic bypass via Victoria Ave and Bond Street, and the Master Plan proposed to change the structure of both Tay and Dee St to one lane in each direction – rather than the 40-metre wide four lanes at present.
View the Master Plan Here: City Centre Master Plan (PDF) here
Deputy Mayor Nobby Clark said because Tay and Dee Streets were also state highways, NZTA had the final say on changes made to the roading network.
As well as trucks being diverted out of the city centre, restrictions would be made on service lane areas, with the focus on more green space and cycle and pedestrian areas.
A group of 18-24 business owners along Tay Street addressed the council before Christmas with their concerns, saying the increased green spaces and limited parking would be detrimental to trading.
Nobby agreed that cutting down the amount of lanes and increasing the green space was not the best idea because Tay Street was a wind tunnel anyway.
He also had reservations about the amount of cycle lanes proposed and believed in Dunedin, for example, they had gone too far.
“The whole thing with cycle lanes needs to be revisited.”
Local couriers were also feeling left out of the consultation process and wanted answers about where they would be able to drop off and pick up parcels.
Russell said as part of the detailed design for any areas, the council would consider the access requirements for a large range of transport interests, which included couriers and delivery vehicles.
“This access needs to have balanced outcomes with parking needs, including access and mobility parks, and people space.
“There are many cities where in some areas there are limits on access for trucks and other vehicles so that the space can be shared.
“These are just some of the future decisions that will need to be considered.”
After several meetings, some of the business owners were now satisfied the council was listening, and that included couriers, who said a new service lane had been added along an original proposed green space.
The council will consider all of the public submissions over the next fortnight, and make a decision on the first stages of the $20 million development at its February meeting.
Related:
https://whatsoninvers.nz/community-views-sought-on-city-centre-master-plan/