The installation of lights as a traffic detour management tool in the Rakaia Gorge was raised at a meeting of the Ashburton District Road Safety Co-ordinating Committee recently.

Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown said part-time traffic lights at the Rakaia Gorge could be activated remotely if the inland route was being used as a detour when the SH1 Rakaia River bridge was blocked.

"The Inland Scenic Route, formerly SH72, is used as a detour when the Rakaia bridge is impassable; and usually due to an accident blocking the lanes."

Traffic is deviated up to the Rakaia Gorge, which is spanned by a one-lane bridge.

"Huge delays result when the detour is in place, with traffic in both directions struggling to get across the bridge.”

He said the detour route would still suffer from the restriction of flow at the bridge, but part-time traffic lights would enable a safer flow during detour situations.

“These traffic controls, activated when the SH1 Rakaia bridge is blocked, are a sensible and practical solution."

Other matters discussed at the road safety meeting included:

- Civil Defence has written to the Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and Waka Kotahi after last year’s flooding asking for Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road (part of the Inland Scenic Route) to be reinstated as a state highway for connectivity reasons when the SH1 Ashburton bridge is out, or for the road to attract a 95 per cent roading subsidy.

- Centre islands will be constructed on Middle Road to improve the intersection of Belt and Middle Roads. The centre islands will replace the temporary delineators.

- A right-hand turn bay is to be installed on Racecourse Road at the intersection with Hepburns Road. The work will involve seal widening granular overlay and undergrounding power lines.

- Cycle lanes on Walnut Avenue between Oak Grove and West Street will be widened. Apple green markings will help highlight the cycle lane for road users.

- The process for changing speed limits at Methven, near the Opuke hot pools, on SH1 through Rakaia and north of Ashburton.