Work to increase pedestrian safety at the intersection of Cook and Shakespeare Streets is almost complete with the narrowing of the traffic lane to try and reduce traffic speeds, and completion of the line marking.
The project started in May and also included widening the footpath on Cook Street and installing a raised safety platform on Shakespeare Street.
The work was instigated following submissions from the community and the Cambridge Community Board requesting safer pedestrian access between Leamington and the Cambridge CBD, particularly for school children.
Group manager service delivery Dawn Inglis said it was a very busy roundabout with a lot of use by heavy vehicles as it was an important strategic transport link.
The total cost of the project was $270,000. Fifty one percent was funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Inglis said there had been lots of questions about the yellow and black rubber speed humps used at the roundabout, as they were a new feature in Waipā.
“They widen the central roundabout island and therefore limit speed, without the high cost and high disruption of fully reconstructing the central island,” she said.
The design for the safety improvements considered all road legal vehicles, including the largest standard vehicle, and was peer reviewed by a third party who specialises in road safety.
Tomorrow (Friday) the concrete will be poured for the footpath and middle crossing point, with only minor finishing touches left to be completed.
