Transport operators say heavy vehicle access to a rapidly developing commercial and industrial zone in the Waikato will be choked by an unrealistic new roundabout design.

The Waipa District Council is nearing completion of the new roundabout on Hautapu Rd (a section of State Highway 1B). It’s a key access point to the fast growing Hautapu area adjacent to the Waikato Expressway.

Some local transport operators have raised concerns that the roundabout is poorly designed for heavy vehicles – in particular over-dimension units. They also say there’s been a frustrating lack of consultation from Waipa council.

Mike Ross of C&R Developments operates a fleet of heavy haul units regularly using Hautapu Rd with `rows of eight’ trailers up to 3.7m wide to move machinery.

“What this area needs is a gateway, not a choke point,” says Ross.

“The most frustrating thing for the stakeholders who are developing this area is they’re not being listened to by the council.

“We would prefer to be able to work with council. We understand what they want to do but they are not catering to the industries which are coming to Hautapu.”

The roundabout is near completion. Heading from Cambridge towards Hautapu the road has been narrowed with kerbs and a centre island but is a relatively straight run for all traffic. In the southbound direction the roundabout is a tight left-right-left chicane.

There are already tyre marks across the concrete kerb and onto the inner cobbles where large vehicles have been unable to negotiate the roundabout heading south.

David Wilkinson, another long-time Cambridge operator, says the roundabout isn’t suitable for the type of heavy traffic using the area.

 “We are in a key location on the edge of the `Golden Triangle’,” says Wilkinson.

“The area is seeing massive growth, and most of it is connected to the transport industry. Mainfreight and Emmerson Transport have moved here, TDX have a new facility and Scania is building a big service centre here. Fonterra is also doing a massive upgrade at the dairy factory.”

Wilkinson says the council has advised heavy haulage operators to use the “wrong side of the road” if they are having difficulty with the roundabout.

The NZ Heavy Haulage Association has been in talks with the council about the roundabout, but CEO Jonathan Bhana-Thomson says the association should have had earlier input to the design process.

“Council have been reasonably responsive to our concerns, and we have been backwards and forwards a few times with the designers,” he says.

“While it was too late to make any changes to the offset of the roundabout, council have followed some of our suggestions about cambered edges, runovers and have moved a couple of light poles and some signage.

“Whether it’s enough, time will tell. We should have had earlier engagement.”

In response to questions from New Zealand Truck & Driver, the Waipa District Council says the Hautapu roundabout went through a thorough design process to accommodate all standard trucks, for all turns.

“It is designed with expanded tracking curves to accommodate over dimension loads by utilising the north bound lane. This is common practice for many roundabouts.

 “The roundabout was done with a private developer, so there was no legal requirement to publicly notify. But the project team and designer did meet with some local businesses in the area, including one which transports prefab buildings, and they have been satisfied with the design.”

It’s not the only roundabout issue affecting transport companies in Cambridge.

At Leamington the Cook St and Shakespeare St roundabout has been narrowed with extended kerbs and judder bars placed around the inside the roundabout. There is a raised pedestrian crossing on the exit from the roundabout (eastbound). 

Cambridge Business Chamber CEO Kelly Bouzaid is concerned by the roundabout re-design, in particular the location of the pedestrian crossing which is immediately in the path of drivers who are turning left and will be checking for traffic on their right.

“To me, it’s an accident waiting to happen,” she says.

“It’s a bit ironic that the roundabout isn’t a roading improvement – it’s a pedestrian and cycling improvement, that in my opinion, has actually created a higher risk for them.”

The Waipa District Council says, “the courtesy crossing point for pedestrians is in the same place it has always been in. Signs are being installed at the four access points of the crossing to remind pedestrians to stop and look for traffic, as the crossing point does not provide a priority crossing point for pedestrians.”

The Leamington roundabout now carries an increased heavy traffic as the main freight route between Taranaki and the Port of Tauranga.