NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is looking at technical solutions to address an issue at the Albert Town bridge.<\/p>\n
The bridge is a one-way system controlled by traffic lights at present, where cars stop at the white line to activate the lights.<\/p>\n
A current resident of the campground said he once counted 50 vehicles lined up due to the front car not pulling forward far enough.<\/p>\n
“Tourists and even some locals don\u2019t get close enough to the line, so the lights won\u2019t change.<\/p>\n
“We hear a lot of commotion, honking and yelling.<\/p>\n
“People have started to drive up the wrong side of the road, parking in front of the first car to get the lights to change, or people coming from W\u0101naka have stopped and told the front car to pull forward,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Motorhomes think they are too wide, so they stay back but can\u2019t activate the lights.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve seen cars wait on the H\u0101wea side of the bridge for 10 minutes because they are too far back,” he said.<\/p>\n
An NZTA spokesperson said the issue at the Albert Town bridge was something NZTA was aware of and it was looking at technical solutions to address the issue.<\/p>\n
“A plan is being developed [and] in the meantime, we encourage road users to pull up to the marked area as directed on both sides of the bridge.<\/p>\n
“More broadly, NZTA is looking at the busy connection between W\u0101naka and Lake H\u0101wea to see what improvements may be needed in the longer term,” they said.<\/p>\n