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A Warkworth street could be partially closed if Auckland Transport and NZTA recommendations are accepted by local residents.
The transport agencies want to stop all traffic from exiting the northern end of Wech Drive onto Auckland Road and allow entry traffic only, meaning all vehicles would have to leave Wech Drive at its southern junction, near McKinney Road.
In a letter to residents in January, engineers Harrison Grierson said a new southbound slip lane from The Grange retail development onto SH1, that ended near Wech Drive’s northern exit, prompted concerns about potential conflict between traffic using the intersections.
As a result, NZTA and Auckland Transport are recommending that traffic no longer exits the northern intersection, saying the visibility at the southern junction is superior. They have been asking Wech Drive householders for their views on the proposed changes.
Local resident Steve Berger says he is pleased people are being consulted, but isn’t sure that having traffic turn right at the southern intersection is any safer than at the northern end, because northbound traffic on SH1 is partially hidden from view and often travels at high speed.
“We feel the northern exit is no worse than the southern exits,” he said. “It’s actually more of a hassle to turn right at the southern end. We always turn left and go via McKinney Road.”
Grange developer Colin Reynolds of Square and Main Street says the intersection has always been dangerous.
“The trouble is, to see anything you have got to stick your nose out so far it could get cut off. It’s between Auckland Transport and NZTA. They’ve decided it’s a safety issue, so they have asked us to carry out consultation.
“I think we’ve had eight or nine responses so far, and all of them have been positive.”
He added that the recent temporary closure of Wech Drive’s northern intersection was as a result of work to finish a retaining wall next to the highway.
NZTA says it would be inappropriate to comment before analysis of the public consultation has taken place. Auckland Transport did not respond to requests for comment.
