In a small room in Picton’s library, dozens of people have gathered to discuss the intricacies of truck routes, intersections, school crossings, and parking spaces.
They pored over stands and wall displays, showing the proposed permanent State Highway 1 route along Kent St to the ferry terminal, instead of through central Picton.
The proposed changes have already caused controversy, with one resident calling the changes “horrible”, when they were announced on June 11.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s pop-up sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday hummed with questions, fresh ideas and a bit of debate.
But not from Heather Hopkins, a resident of upper Kent St, who had popped in on Wednesday afternoon to see how the highway would go past her home. She was pretty happy, she said.
“I’m not really affected, I just wanted more information,” Hopkins said.
“[I have] no concerns at all, it’ll be free flowing once everyone gets used to it.”
In the evening session, people were most drawn to the board showing where Kent St met the Wairau Rd/SH1 intersection, which would take ferry passengers and freight trucks from the terminals out of town under the new proposal.
Lara O’Brien, who lived around the corner from Kent St, said the intersection’s new alignment would would cut residents off from their own town centre during peak traffic.
Drivers on SH1 south of Kent St wanting to get into central Picton would need to make a right-hand turn onto Wairau Rd towards Nelson Square. During peak ferry traffic, they would be stuck in a right-turning lane with no gaps, O’Brien said.
“These people [leaving the ferry terminal] get to just go, but people going to town, when do they get to go?” O’Brien said.
“You get 60 trucks coming out of the ferry terminal …This is going to be a congestion point for locals coming out of town.”
Another group lingered around the board showing the relocation of the Picton School crossing on Kent St.
Many of the attendees were reluctant to speak publicly about their opinions on the divisive subject. The loss of roadside parking and problems with trucks parking along the road were common complaints.
A truck driver from Levin, whose cousin was a Picton-based truckie, came along to the evening session. He said NZTA did a similar consultation about a pedestrian overpass in Levin, and he was sceptical that feedback would alter the proposal.
A Picton resident praised NZTA for moving the crossing outside Picton School back to its original position, saying he didn’t know why it was put there a few years ago. “They’re just putting it back to where it was because people don’t use it.”
NZTA regional manager of system design Robert Osborne said the sessions were a valuable way of sharing information with Picton residents and getting their feedback.
“The drop-in sessions were all well attended with around 30-40 people each session, and some coming to visit us a couple of times to ask further questions,” Osborne said.
“We received a great range of questions and comments which will help us with our detailed design work.
“We also understand … that there will likely be a wide range of opinions about them.
“However, this project is aimed at improving Picton’s roads and making it easier for people to get around. We look forward to continuing to hear from the community about our plans.”
Design plans would now be finalised and work would start next winter.
By Kira Carrington for Local Democracy Reporting
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
