My Account
Proposed safety changes to an intersection in Sandspit has drawn flak from residents who insist the plan will instead make the intersection more dangerous.
Auckland Transport (AT) has proposed the changes at the intersection of Sandspit and Sharp Roads, following collisions involving traffic turning right out of Sandspit Road and drivers heading towards Snells Beach losing control on the bend.
The proposed changes on Sandspit Road involve extending the kerb line to eliminate the left turn slip lane for traffic heading towards Sandspit. This is intended to slow traffic through the intersection and make it safer for people turning right out of Sandspit Road.
AT also proposes to paint appropriate road markings and install new signage to make people more aware of the intersection and road curvature.
On Sharp Road, AT proposes installing a STOP sign on a new grass berm at the junction and a chevron “T-intersection” board opposite the junction to increase awareness of the intersection.
In a letter to residents outlining the proposals, AT services and performance manager Tracey Berkhan says AT embraces “Vision Zero” principles, which decrees only zero deaths and zero serious injuries are acceptable.
The letter goes on to say the project is supported by the regional fuel tax.
But Sandspit Residents and Ratepayers Association (SRRA) chair Greg Doherty says the proposed changes will make the intersection worse for traffic turning right out of Sandspit Road, because the absence of a slip lane will reduce its ability to see oncoming through traffic continuing up Mahurangi East Road.
In an email to Sandspit residents, the SRRA says rather than removing the slip lane, its width should be increased by half a metre, making it safer for left-turning vehicles.
It also suggests a traffic island to prevent motorists emerging from Sharp Road from treating the intersection as a direct route to Mahurangi East Road.
The SRRA also supports new signage to reduce the speed of southbound traffic on Sandspit Road and road markings to increase awareness of a T-intersection at the end of Sharp Road. However, it opposes any chevron T-intersection board that would obscure the “Welcome to Sandspit” sign.
AT spokesperson Natalie Polley says there have been four collisions at the intersection resulting in serious injury in the last two-and-a-half years. Two were the result of vehicles turning right out of Sandspit Road towards Warkworth and two were the result of vehicles losing control on the bend at the intersection.
