A community group who raised concerns over the adequacy of the pedestrian crossings in Wakefield are celebrating this week after being told that the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is widening the pedestrian refuge on Arrow Street, making it safer for both people and traffic.
Made up of local parents and members of the community, the Wakefield Road Crossings group have been campaigning for change tirelessly over the last year. Jenny Lines, a mum-of-three who fronts the campaign, says, “We are really pleased with the outcome of the Arrow Street crossing upgrade. A larger ‘S’ shaped refuge with cage and kerb build-out will be a vast improvement on what is currently there. It’s been a year of hard work creating submissions and presenting at meetings, so we are really happy to see that our work is creating some change.”
The Waimea Weekly got behind the Wakefield Road Crossings campaign last November and has been closely following their progress. Various temporary measures were put in place until a final decision on how to improve the crossing was made thanks to their efforts on behalf of the village.
“A full safety investigation of the highway through Wakefield was conducted, given the parents’ and community’s concerns,” says Andrew James, system manager for Waka Kotahi, Top of the South.
The report recommended a number of ways to improve the safety of the Arrow Street crossing, the busiest crossing point with most children at peak hours.
“The next step for us will be pressing Waka Kotahi to implement the same upgrade to the Pigeon Valley crossing,” says Jenny. “The safety audit had already been done by the time McGazzaland opened in Wakefield. The new pump track is proving extremely popular for kids of all ages and the Pigeon Valley crossing is the key link to that and the school. This crossing is also on the direct path of the Great Taste Cycle Trail which is regularly used by families and riding groups.”
Jamie McPherson, transport manager for Tasman District Council, says, “It has been impressive to see the proactive way the local community group went about getting this result. It’s a good step towards making streets safer for the Wakefield community. The Council has been happy to support the initiative and to encourage Waka Kotahi to prioritise this work.”
The official safety audit also identified the need for a crossing at the end of Martin Avenue. “We hope Waka Kotahi will acknowledge and action this too,” says Jenny. “There is currently no crossing down that end of town and many families have voiced concerns over this.”
The group’s goal is to see an underpass installed in the future, but Waka Kotahi investigated that possibility and, due to a number of reasons, ruled it would not be a cost-effective solution.
“We haven’t given up on our goal of an underpass in the future, but until that is possible, these upgrades combined would improve the connection between both sides of our village and make Wakefield a safer community for all to enjoy,” says Jenny.
Wakefield School surprised Jenny with a Local Hero Award in last Friday’s assembly. “I went along to watch my son receive an award for his kindness. I never expected to be called up to get an award too,” says Jenny.