Drivers to take extra care at Snell Road intersection

The intersection of Snell Road and SH35 is causing concern for truck drivers using the access road for the Harbour Project as too many cars are not following the posted speed limits.

Harbour Project Director, John Galbraith, said that when the speed limits were initially posted at the end of 2020, they took a while to ‘bed in’ but there was generally good compliance. However, in recent months, more and more vehicles were ignoring the posted speed limits to the east of the Otara bridge, and it was causing concern for the project team.

“This intersection has always been a concern for our project as it requires our truck drivers exiting Snell Road to cross the state highway and move into the opposite lane.

“We currently have about 1000t of rock per day coming in and there are the concrete trucks on top of that which means we have almost 100 truck movements through the Snell Road intersection each day.

“They have good visibility in both directions, but when cars are speeding through that section it can close a gap too fast. The last thing anyone wants is an accident so I would ask, particularly locals who use that road often, to remember that those speed limits are there for a reason and will be until around September this year.

“We’ve also spoken to the Police about our concerns and they have been taking a greater presence and compliance blitz along that stretch to remind people of the speed limits. The posted speeds are not new and have been there for more than a year now. There is no excuse,” Mr Galbraith said.

Wilson Bros are one of the main trucking contractors supplying the site at the moment and there are many other vehicles, large and small, also operating.

Wilson Bros Service Manager, Sefton Prentice said that his drivers had raised the issue a number of times in tool box meetings.

“I know the guys driving are taking absolutely all possible care to keep everyone safe. But we have had a few near misses in recent months, and it is not fair to the drivers to have the added stress of cars going well above the speed limits, making their jobs harder.

“It is pretty easy – keep to the posted speed limits, keep an eye out for trucks, and take extra care around the area,” Mr Prentice said.