Walkers welcome Latham Street crossing

Napier mum Juliet Greig kicked off a new project, and a new step in her own life, when she started a petition to make roads safer in her neighbourhood. 

Now a councillor for the Nelson Park ward, Juliet rallied her neighbours and worked with Council to get the right solution to their traffic challenge. 

The new Latham Street crossing helps make the street safer for pedestrians and cyclists, especially important for those heading to school, and home again. 

Some parents have been so worried about their children they won’t allow them to walk to school, Juliet says. 

“The new crossing has had another positive effect, encouraging motorists to slow down so people living on Latham Street feel more comfortable reversing their vehicles out of driveways.” 

The transportation team has worked closely with the community to find a solution that suits everybody, says Russell Bond, Acting Executive Director Infrastructure Services at Napier City Council. 

“It made sense to create another safe place for people to cross such a busy road connecting suburbs, the CBD and SH51. Council is continually looking for ways to improve the transport network for anyone wanting to walk, bike or drive in Napier.” 

The petition initiated by Councillor Greig asked Napier City Council to assess road safety in her neighbourhood. The assessment found Latham Street, a busy connecting road between suburbs, the central business district and SH51, could do with another safe crossing point at the eastern end. This was especially important for the number of young people going to and from school, and for the small businesses in the area. 

Just west of the intersection with Morris Street, kerb build-outs complement the crossing island installed between the two lanes. This means people are able to wait in the middle of the road, lessening the amount of time they are exposed to traffic, and meaning both they and motorists can see each other more clearly. 

Other areas that will benefit from improvements to the transport network over the next couple of years are Carlyle Street, Tennyson Street, Kennedy Road, and Lee Road.

Photo: Stepping out safely, from left, Nelson Park ward councillor Juliet Greig, Dane Jarmin, six, Keir Jarmin, nine, and Kyrah Tohovaka-Paxie, aged ten, on the Latham Street crossing.

27 January 2023

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