A high-risk section of Thornton Road known as ‘Blueberry Curves’ will have safety improvements and a reduced speed limit implemented by 2026, following agreement by elected members at today’s (11 April) Infrastructure & Planning committee meeting.
Safety improvements to this section of road were included in the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan. Pre-implementation during the past year highlighted escalating supplier costs and design challenges which saw project costs nearly double to over $6 million. Staff today presented elected members with a revised proposal exploring alternative investment opportunities.
Elected members approved Option 3 which recommended the introduction of a reduced speed limit of 80km/hr on a section of Thornton Road and other associated minor safety improvements. The original recommendation defined the area as between SH30 and West Bank Road. However, an amendment to the original recommendation saw the section of road in question reduced to between the SH30 junction and property number 462 Thornton Road, west of the blueberry corners.
Manager Transportation, Ann-Elise Reynolds says road safety is a major problem on the district’s roading network with serious injuries on the local road network doubling over the last five years and appropriate investment is warranted, however it requires careful consideration of where and how to invest cost effectively.
“At a cost of $200,000, the approved option to reduce the speed limit along this high-risk section of Thornton Road to 80km/h and undertake associated improvements is the lowest cost option, whilst also providing the highest return on investment in terms of cost per injury reduction.”
She continues, “We know our communities are experiencing cost pressures so when we consider managing affordability and comparing to the similar safety issues on our other high-risk roads, this option provides a calculated, reasonable approach to addressing the safety risk, while providing opportunity to further invest in the future.”
The average speed for this section of Thornton Road is 83km/h and 90% of people travel at or below 90km/h. The impact on travel time for users is expected to be between 0 and 54 seconds, with half of drivers experiencing less than a 5 second delay.
“With this in mind, it’s a minimal delay to travel times for the large benefit of potentially saving lives and serious injuries, along with the added costs to the economy for every crash or serious injury.”
A related agenda item regarding the Whakatāne District Speed Management Plan was met with thorough discussion. The plan outlines targeted changes proposed to the district’s roading network so that the community can travel safely and confidently with minimal risk to their lives and wellbeing.
Despite recent amendments to the Land Transport Rule meaning Councils are no longer mandated to adopt Speed Management Plans, a Plan may still be adopted by Councils to allow adjustments to speed limits. Without a Speed Management Plan, no speed limit changes can be made even when warranted or requested by the community.
Elected members voted to make further amendments to the Speed Management Plan before it is put to Council for adoption.
Implementation of safety enhancements to Blueberry Curves is anticipated for 2026, subject to final adoption of the Whakatāne District Speed Management Plan. No changes will be implemented to this area, or to any other roads across the district until this occurs.
ENDS