Crashes and deaths making roads a hot topic

Roads in rural South Auckland have come under major scrutiny from locals concerned about the number of crashes they are causing.

This is creating problems for politicians who know the value of the road system and want to reduce the devastating deaths on them.

Auckland Council deputy mayor Bill Cashmore said that it’s always sad for the families involved in these crashes.

“You know fatalities are tragic.”

As the Franklin Ward Councillor, these deaths affect his ward but he said he can’t directly influence the council despite his role as deputy mayor.

“Directly no, what the council laws do is they set the budget for Auckland Council.”

The council could give more and more money to Auckland Transport to fix local roads but there is a taxpayer resistance to this, he said.

Intersections and roads all over Auckland are put through a priority sift to determine when work will be done to them.

“But there’s lots of priority over all of Auckland,” Mr Cashmore said.

There are currently over 450 high-risk intersections and 1,700km of roads across the Auckland network that need upgrading.

Auckland Transport reviews high-risk crash locations and investigates them so that they can be improved appropriately.

Monument Rd in Clevedon has seen speed reduction signs recently placed after numerous crashes on the road, including one that killed a person last February.

Hunua MP, Andrew Bayly said that despite it being election year the road network in his electorate is no more on his mind than usual.

“You know of course I’m focusing on roads, I’ve been focused on roads for the past two years”.

Working together with the council and local board members including Franklin chairperson Angela Fulljames, the aim is to fix roads in his electorate.

“Angela, Bill and I are all trying to work together on this.”

Investment is needed across the electorate, and authorities in charge agree on this, said Mr Bayly.

“If you go and talk to NZTA or Auckland Council they all recognize the south needs investment.”

Locals still want more action from those in charge despite knowing that there is a finite amount of money to spend on roads.

Christine Mason, a Clevedon resident who drives the roads daily said that more can be done.

“Safety has to be a priority, some of the signs are misleading and at too high a limit while a lot of the corners need their camber fixing.”