Mill Road safety needs coordinated approach

A proposal by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s (NZTA) to prohibit the southbound right-turn movement from State Highway 1 into Mill Road at Leithfield, in response to safety concerns and a documented crash history at this location, is being supported by Hurunui District Council (HDC).

Submissions closed today.

This week councillors approved Council’s submission which was in agreeance with NZTA’s proposal, but it went two steps further to address the crash history on this stretch of road along the South Island’s main corridor.

The submission also recommended a broader corridor-based safety approach, including prohibiting traffic exiting Mill Road to turn right to head in a southward direction, and applying consistent access and turning controls at Hursley Terrace Road.

This will put a stop to any traffic crossing oncoming traffic while entering or exiting Mill Road or Hursley Terrace Road.

In addition, another recommendation stated the implementation of a localised speed limit of 80km/hour through the Mill Road and Hursley Terrace area.

HDC’s Chief Executive Officer Hamish Dobbie acknowledged Council’s submission is an appropriate and proportionate safety response that aligns with Safe System principles and addresses community concerns.

Dobbie said it is impossible to acknowledge the Mill Road intersection in isolation, and the intent of the submission is to advocate for a coordinated, corridor‑based approach.

“We acknowledge this was an appropriate safety response, given the constrained road proximity, proximity to the bridge and crash risk at this location.”

Dobbie added that Hurunui’s local policing team, through Senior Sergeant Rob Irvine, has expressed support for NZTA’s proposal, considering it a long‑overdue safety intervention for this intersection.

Council received notification from NZTA on 15 April, giving officers just 12 working days to put together a submission and seek approval from councillors.

Dobbie said while NZTA was seeking stakeholder input only, Council officers considered it important that the proposal also reflect community perspectives, given the local impact of the change.

NZTA’s proposal has been circulated to the Leithfield Community Committee and the South Ward Committee, to give them the opportunity to respond direct.

Since 2016, at the Mill Road intersection there have been two serious and two minor crashes, which included three rear-end incidences.

There have been twice the number of rear-end incidences during the same period at the Hursley Terrace Road intersection.

Mayor Marie Black Marie was in full support of HDC’s submission, recalling several years ago NZTA’s idea of prohibiting southbound turning traffic into Mill Road being proposed, but progressing no further.

“Road safety is our primary focus, and finding a cost-effective measure to remedy that, is important in this situation,” said Mayor Black.

South Ward Councillor Brett Jones was pleased to see this proposal on the table, which he conceded was well overdue.

“I wholeheartedly endorse anything we can do in conjunction with NZTA to fix that.”