By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter
NZTA staff meet with residents at Picton Library about moving State Highway 1 onto Kent Street. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington
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 Street to the ferry terminal, instead of through central Picton.
The proposed changes have already caused controversy, with one resident calling them "horrible", when they were announced on 11 June.
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 Street, who had popped in to see how the highway would go past her home.
She was pretty happy, she said.
Picton resident Heather Hopkins says she has no concerns about NZTA's proposed changes. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington
"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 Street met the Wairau Road/SH1 intersection, which would take ferry passengers and freight trucks from the terminals out of town under the new proposal.
As part of a realignment of SH1 through Picton, changes have been proposed to the intersection of State Highway 1 and Wairau Road. Photo: NZTA
Lara O'Brien, who lived around the corner from Kent Street, said the intersection's new alignment would cut residents off from their own town centre during peak traffic.
Drivers on SH1 south of Kent Street wanting to get into central Picton would need to make a right-hand turn onto Wairau Road 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 Street.
People are particularly drawn to the planned changes for the Wairau Road/Kent Street intersection. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington
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."
Graphics supplied by NZTA show the loss of parking on Kent Street under the new proposal. Photo: NZTA
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.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
