Traffic changes at Whanganui City Bridge intersection

Published on 03 November 2014

3 November 2014

Wanganui District Council Infrastructure Manager Mark Hughes says the traffic signals at the Taupo Quay/Victoria Avenue intersection will be out of action this week and motorists are urged to take care.

“We will be upgrading the traffic signals with a new controller, LED signals and new poles in preparation for changes to traffic flows at the intersection,” Mr Hughes said.

“From Tuesday, November 4, the intersection will be temporarily controlled with a roundabout. We expect the work to take up to three days so it will be even more important for motorists to take care and obey the road rules during this time.

“When the new signals are in place, there will be some significant changes to the lanes at the intersection that will also require people to be up to speed with the road rules.”

Traffic travelling from Somme Parade to the Whanganui City Bridge will queue in a single lane which will allow vehicles to go straight ahead along Taupo Quay, turn left on to the bridge and turn right on to Victoria Avenue.

Traffic travelling on the St Hill Street side of Taupo Quay will have three lanes: a left turn into Victoria Avenue; a right turn on to the City Bridge; and a combined straight ahead and right turn lane. This means there will be two lanes of traffic turning right so drivers will need to obey turning rules and stay in their lane as they go on to the bridge.

There will be no conflict between traffic turning left and right on to the City Bridge as the lanes will turn on different phases.

Traffic travelling from Victoria Avenue toward the City Bridge will have the same two lanes as at present: straight ahead and left turn; and straight ahead and right turn.

The lanes also remain unchanged for vehicles leaving the City Bridge on the town side with a left turn lane and a combined straight ahead and right turn lane.

Pedestrians will also be affected by the changes. The current ‘barn dance’ pedestrian phase (where all traffic stops and pedestrians can cross diagonally) will no longer apply. Pedestrian movements will be phased with traffic lane stoppages which will be more efficient for traffic and pedestrians.

View diagram of new intersection layout (PDF, 29KB)