River and Horotiu Bridge Road intersection safety improvements (photo: Waikato District Council)
Waikato District Council improved safety at a high risk at the River Road and Horotiu Bridge Road intersection by transforming a stop-controlled T-intersection with a safe system roundabout.
Roundabouts reduce the risk of a crash occurring and slow vehicle speeds so that if a crash was to occur, it’s more likely to be survivable. To also increase safety, the speed limit was reduced to 60km/h on the approaches to the roundabout.
Waikato council partnered with Waka Kotahi to deliver the best safe system solution for the community, faster, to reduce risk on the road network.
“It’s been a complete success. From the close partnership with Waka Kotahi, the enhanced and accelerated funding process and completion ahead of programme, all of which has led to the elimination of the serious crash risk at this intersection,” says Gareth Bellamy, Senior Transportation Engineer, Waikato Council.
The intersection is located in a growth area on the outskirts of Hamilton City, which has shown rapid transformation from a rural environment to an increasingly urbanised environment with increased commercial activity, traffic volume and heavy vehicles servicing new industrial developments.
Before the roundabout was built there were 17 reported crashes at the intersection in five years, with four serious injuries and six minor injuries and 11 non-injury crashes. The roundabout aims to reduce death and serious injuries by about 60%.
