Plan to make Goldfinch Street one-way to be put to council

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 42, 9 April 1985, Page 13

Plan to make Goldfinch Street one-way to be put to council

The Ohakune Borough Council is to be asked to make Goldfinch Street, from Clyde Street to Ayr Streets, one-way. The town's traffic officer, Graeme Cole, has received a report from a Ministry of Transport engineer, which recommends the road should be one-way. At the end of last year, many locals were concerned at the speed of cars travelling along Goldfinch Street, outside the shopping area. This concern was highlighted when a small boy was knocked down by a car in the street. A petition for a pedestrian crossing was started after the accident.

The engineer's report suggests that making the road one-way would be more effective as a way of preventing potential accidents, than would the installation of a pedestrian crossing. The idea will be put to a meeting of the Ohakune Borough Council on 11th April. If the scheme is approved, traffic would only be able to drive from the Clyde Street end of Goldfinch Street towards Ayr Street. Kerbing blocks would be placed along the road initially, to reduce the width. At a later date these would be developed into garden plots. "The garden plots will slow traffic down and make the place look more attractive," said Mr Cole. The bus stop on Goldfinch Street would be made smaller so a truck loading zone could be placed behind it, and angle parking would be allowed opposite the bus stop. The project would be relatively inexpensive, said Mr Cole. ★ ★ ★ During the next week, Mangawhero, Goldfinch and Shannon Streets are to be realigned.

T emporary kerbing blocks will be placed in these areas and traffic officer, Graeme Cole, has asked that these blocks be treated with respect by motorists. The traffic island situated on the corner of Clyde and Moore Streets is to be extended so that traffic will be made to enter Moore Street on the left of the island and exit by the Turoa Skifields information centre only. Eventually this new section of island will be planted with grass and plants. A new traffic island is to be built at the entrance to AHI's 50 acre site, to prevent motorists from travelling around the wrong side of the island. Mr Cole asks motorists to be extra careful because of the changes that will be occurring in the next few weeks.