Trucks squeeze past each other on Roslyn Rd, which is popular link road between State Highways 1 and 57 for heavy trucks and farm vehicles.
Trucks squeeze past each other on Roslyn Rd, which is popular link road between State Highways 1 and 57 for heavy trucks and farm vehicles.
The width of a new road on the edge of Levin is causing concern for some rural users despite assurances that it fits within modern roading and safety guidelines.
A newly sealed section of Roslyn Rd has a driveable sealed width measuring 6.5m in some areas, making it one of the skinniest in town.
Trotter's Contracting had operated for 99 years from its Roslyn Rd base. Many of its truck fleet are now struggling to exit or enter the property without mounting the opposite kerb.
Garry Trotter said he had voiced his concern with authorities ahead of construction of the road and kerb, suggesting a turning bay opposite his driveway as a common sense solution.
He was surprised the kerbing went ahead as planned, with sympathy for contractors abiding by instruction.
"It has never been a particularly wide road, but there was always the grass shoulder on either side to use when necessary and on a number of occasions we have found it necessary to drive on this verge.
"This is a very busy road and many trucks travel down it day and night. Also with our business we have trucks and agricultural vehicles using it daily, as do other agricultural contracting businesses.
"Now there is no shoulder to pull over in an emergency. With the kerb right there, there is nowhere to go."
Brian Thomas, who has a farming block further down the road, said Roslyn Rd was often used by heavy traffic and farm machinery to cross town.
"God help us if this is going to be width of the road now," he said.
"It could easily have been made wider. I am trying to understand the logic. There isn't any."
Horowhenua District Council had provided information to residents that said research had shown there was no evidence to support the assumption that road safety was increased with wider traffic lanes.
"Please be assured that our Roading Team implement best practice when designing our roads and have safety and future growth in mind at the same time."
The road design catered for expected traffic growth, while also keeping speed to a safe level, and providing a safe environment for walking and cycling, it said.
Current Australian and New Zealand standards were for general traffic lane widths of 3.5m from kerbs edge.
Lane widths of 3.5m allowed enough room for "large vehicles to pass or overtake, without either vehicle having to move sideways towards the outer edge of the lane".
A district plan from Horowhenua District Council shows potential future roading structures between existing roads.
Times were changing. Nearby Kennedy Drive, built in the 1960s, had a total width between opposing kerbs of 12m, as did parts of Weraroa Rd and Queen St, while a section of Cambridge St near town was 24m across.
Traffic on Roslyn Rd was increasing. A 2017 study showed almost 2000 vehicles used the road each day, figures that were taken before the recent development of a childcare facility with a capacity for 130 children.
Growth estimates suggest as many as 10,000 vehicles per day using the road in 20 years.
Significant housing developments were already underway in the area with the planned construction of more than 128 new houses on the corner of Roslyn Rd and Fairfield Rd.
