Attention turns to nasty Takaro intersections

Drivers using Takaro's Chelwood Street evidently don't know how to use give- way signs.

Since 2002, there's been 18 accidents - seven with people injured - at Chelwood Street's cross-street intersections from Botanical Road to Pascal Street, according to Palmerston North City Council roading information.

Most of the intersections are priority controlled, with give-way signs, requiring drivers to know the road rules.

Another crash-prone intersection in that area is where Lyndhurst Street joins four-lane Pioneer Highway. Four out of the six accidents there since 2002 have seen people injured.

Council road planning team leader David Lane said the council was about to take a hard look at what should be done for Chelwood Street's intersections, and neighbouring streets in the block bounded by Featherston Street, Botanical Road, Pioneer Highway and Pascal Street.

"We're aware that there's problems. This next financial year [starting next month] we'll investigate and come up with some possible solutions, and consult the residents about what they'd like to have happen."

Shamrock Street resident Marie Angelo, who heard yet another almighty bang and smashing noises on Friday morning from the latest accident at the corner of her street and Chelwood, said that slowing drivers down should be the top priority.

"It's a notoriously bad corner," she said. (Council figures give five accidents since 2002, with a sixth on Friday) "We want speed humps, that'd slow them down."

Mrs Angelo said another problem was boy racers roaring through the area, especially after dark.

"They've set up a race circuit using Chelwood," she said. "We're sick of it. There's a lot of older people and children living in this area. Somebody's going to get hurt."

Some of the accidents in the area had seen cars crash through front fences and hit houses. "That shows it's a speed issue," Mrs Angelo said.

Residents had tried to get speed bumps before, but failed. She said it was time for another petition to the council.

Mr Lane said that area was now on the council's books to have work done during the next couple of financial years.

At this stage, he did not know if speed humps would be the best solution. Speeds would have to be monitored.

"We used small roundabouts very successfully on Rangiora Ave in Roslyn. That was similar - residential area, small streets - and the roundabouts slowed traffic."

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