July 2019
Produced for the community, by the community
Woodend Pegasus SH1 Corridor the Woodend Bypass should not be Bypassed On 6 June a meeting was held at the Woodend Tavern to discuss the safety, speed and congestion of SH1 through Woodend and surrounds. This was organised by MP Matt Doocey and attended by the Hon Simon Bridges. Many of our local groups were represented including Woodend School, Netball Club, Rugby Club, various child care facilities, the Fire Brigade, the Woodend Community Association (WCA), Pegasus Residents’ Group (PRGI), Pegasus Golf & Sport Club, Community Boards, Mayoral hopefuls, some business owners, as well as many concerned residents of whom a number have attended accidents or witnessed near misses. Matt Doocey outlined the concerns, followed by Mark Paterson representing the WCA. Some interesting figures: - Traffic counts through Woodend vary but one figure is 16,000 vehicles per day, of which 11% are heavy vehicles. Up-todate figure should be available soon - The current population of Waimakariri is 60,700. Over the next 30 years the population is expected to grow to somewhere between 85,000 and 108,500 - Woodend and Pegasus are growing rapidly and Waimakariri is the third-
fastest growing district in the country - Between Belfast and the Ashley bridge 8 people have died and 49 seriously injured in accidents between 2008 and 2017 If nothing changes the current challenges, congestion, and safety issues will only get worse. Once the meeting was opened up for everyone to have their say it was apparent that there were common themes. While waiting for the Woodend Bypass, something needs to be done now as the Bypass is not even in the 10-year plan. The traffic situation is having serious implications for residents, pedestrians and drivers. Pedestrian safety at the school crossing, other parts of Woodend and at the Pegasus roundabout was of major concern to all. A key worry is the crossing used by students of Woodend School, which a local police officer acknowledges is the second most dangerous crossing in North Canterbury. One resident witnessed a near miss at the school when she gave way for a young child to cross the road, but a
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THE WOODPECKER JULY 2019 Page 1