Kaiapoi safety improvements long overdue – school principals

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Kaiapoi North School is hoping some much needed road safety improvements will finally happen.

The Waimakariri District Council has announced it will upgrade the pedestrian crossing and add in some safety features on Williams St, in front of the school, later this year.

Safety improvements were also completed outside Kaiapoi High School ready for the new school year.

Kaiapoi North School principal Jason Miles said the school had been lobbying the council ‘‘for a long time’’, raising concerns about speeding motorists.

Student leaders had made presentations to the council in recent years, before Miles and board of trustees chairperson Greg Thomson met with council staff last year.

‘‘We are really excited to see the council is putting in place these changes. It really has been accident waiting to happen.

‘‘The behaviour of some drivers is really concerning and it is not just at the beginning and end of the day, because we have children walking to the Kaiapoi Aquatic Centre for swimming or to the domain for sports.

‘‘And it is a safety issue for other members of the community too.’’

A council spokesperson said the safety improvements would be made in two stages, with the first stage due to be completed mid-year and stage two by the end of the year.

Work will include installing speed cushion pads to force cars to slow down as they approach the crossing, improvements to the kerb and line marking.

Stage two will involve raising of the footpath on the eastern side of the crossing to make it accessible to wheelchairs and push chairs.

Kaiapoi High School principal Jason Reid said staff were pleased to begin the year with a new pedestrian crossing and safety improvements next to the school’s main entrance on Ohoka Road.

‘‘It was a significant concern for the school and we have really appreciated the effort of the council and the contractors to get the work done for the new school year,’’ Reid said.

He said staff were out in force during the first week of school to ensure students and the public understood the new environment.

The council spokesperson said too many motorists were exceeding the 40kph speed limit (during school hours).

Work has been completed to reduce traffic speeds, while a new pedestrian crossing and concrete refuge islands added, and the painted median widened in a bid to improve pedestrian safety.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.