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A much-needed safer crossing of Hibiscus Coast Highway, near Estuary Arts Centre in Ōrewa, looks likely to be built.
The crossing design is done and public feedback in, but it could have been shelved after Auckland Transport’s (AT) safety fund was cut by Covid budget adjustments.
However, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board considers it is a priority. To make it happen, the local board will need to approve $246,000 for the work.
If approved, the crossing will take the bulk of the board’s drastically reduced transport fund of $305,000.
The project will replace the existing traffic island with a signalised ‘pedestrian activated’ crossing with lights that stop traffic on demand.
The traffic signals will be on the green light except when people need to cross, so AT does not expect it to cause traffic build up.
Local board member Janet Fitzgerald says large numbers of adults and children cross this part of the road, particularly in summer, and it is currently unsafe.
“This type of crossing is very efficient and will stop people having to run across the road, through traffic,” she says.
The board is due to make a decision on whether to fund the crossing at its meeting this week.
