Intersection roadworks awaken 'anarchist tendencies' in Nelson drivers

Thursday, 24 September 2020

Allen Chambers of Nelson cafe Zumo has been outspoken over this years. In this 2020 video he talks about motorists ignoring temporary traffic signs outside his business.

Traffic cones, a no right-turn sign and even a no entry sign have failed to deter Nelson drivers from going their own way at a busy city intersection, leading traffic control to reinstate the right-hand turn.

The temporary signs during central city roadworks had awoken the “anarchist tendencies” in many drivers, a nearby shop owner said.

The traffic chaos during roadworks around the Rutherford St-Vanguard St intersection has led to near misses and at least one accident this week.

From Monday this week the right turning lane from Rutherford St into Vanguard St was coned off and a large no right-hand turn sign placed in the centre of the road.

Zumo security cameras have picked up several drivers ignoring roadworks signage, and recorded a minor collision between two cars.

* Eyebrows raised as new Nelson underpass costs revealed

* Frustration at 'poorly designed' intersection leads to drivers breaking the law

Several drivers ignored no right-turn and no entry signs at the Rutherford/Vanguard intersection, despite the best efforts of traffic management.

However, nearby Zumo cafe owner Allen Chambers said “90-something per cent” of drivers on Wednesday were ignoring the signage and turning anyway.

Chambers’ security cameras picked up several incidents, including an NBus making the right-hand turn and a minor collision between two cars at the intersection.

Chambers said traffic contractors had seen the problem. On Thursday, more cones had been placed across the lane and a no entry sign placed over the left-hand lane of Vanguard St.

That had cut down the numbers turning right, but not stopped them.

“What they [traffic management] did was a great response,” Chambers said.

Allen Chambers said the roadworks seemed to have awoken anarchist tendencies in many “cheeky” Nelson drivers.

“The problem isn't the traffic management, it's the cheeky drivers.”

Chambers said the intersection seemed to have awoken anarchist tendencies in many of Nelson’s drivers.

Over the course of about 20 minutes at midday on Thursday, about five cars took the right-hand turn, driving around the cones and no entry signs. Several other drivers indicated to start the turn before realising the road was closed, and changing direction.

Chambers said people seemed to be driving on auto-pilot. “They’re not stopping and contemplating, they’re just turning right in.”

The roadworks are scheduled to run over 12 weeks to connect the shared pedestrian and cycling pathway from the Railway Reserve to the shared pathway along the Maitai. Traffic had been detoured down Hardy St.

By 4:30 on Thursday, traffic management thought better of the closed turning.

Nelson City Council group manager of infrastructure Alec Louverdis said the intersection was reopened for safety.

The intersection was partially closed to allow buses space to exit out of Haven Rd.

“This change had the unintended consequence of impacting the flow of traffic and was raising some safety concerns. Because of this, the right turn has now been reinstated.”

He said the council would be monitoring traffic in the area and making changes to traffic management “as necessary”.

“We ask that motorists take care when travelling in the area, and please be courteous to buses trying to exit Haven Rd and cross Rutherford St into Wakatu Square.

“We realise that this work is disruptive and thank everyone for their patience while this work is underway.”