Source: Radio New Zealand
New Plymouth mayor Max Brough previously said the removal or modification of the cycleway would be one of his first jobs. ROBIN MARTIN / RNZ
The mayor of New Plymouth has revealed low-profile rubber lane dividers will replace the city’s controversial concrete cycleway separators – nicknamed Tim Tams due to their resemblance to the popular biscuit.
In a video briefing Max Brough said the rubber lane dividers – he’d branded Mallowpuffs – would replace the Tim Tams along a stretch of Devon Street West.
“We’re going from Tim Tams to Mallowpuffs. The concept is that we’re going to go away from those horrible concrete blocks that are causing so much stress and the new ones are going to be put down and I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised.”
Brough campaigned on pulling up the Tim Tams and wanted to turn it into a community event.
He apologised for how long it was taking.
“The Tim Tam battle could’ve been accelerated faster but we’ve got where we’ve got to and it’s largely down to the cost.”
The Transport Agency paid for and installed the $3.8 million cycleway and council staff had estimated it would cost $1.6 million to remove them adding 1.1 percent to rates.
Brough said councillors had baulked at the expense during a December meeting that recommended they remain for at least nine months.
“That was the appetite in the chamber on the day if we’re going to rip all of that out and go back [to what we had] is it a retrograde step and then the cost that was looked at it came back as too much to be doing in a hurry.”
Some motorists complained they had driven into the concrete lane dividers causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage to their vehicles, but the cycleway was popular with some bike riders and an audit by engineering firm Becca found it had improved safety along Devon Street West which feeds onto State Highway 45.
Brough said NZTA was co-operating with council and a design had been completed for the Morley Street to Belt Road section of Devon Street West.
That work would start at the end of March to coincide with the resealing of the road.
Some carparks would be reinstated and there was an information evening for planned residents.
Max Brough says NZTA are co-operating with council and a design has been completed for the Morley Street to Belt Road section of Devon Street West. ROBIN MARTIN / RNZ
Brough did not clarify what the ‘Mallowpuffs’ would be made of in the video briefing, but he told the Taranaki Daily New they would be low-profile rubber dividers about 80mm high and 2m-long.
Motorists would be able to drive over them.
The Tim Tams were more than 100mm high.
In the video briefing, Brough was not clear whether the ‘Mallowpuff’ solution was a trial or intended to be used along the entire length of the cycleway.
In a statement, council officers said it was only a trial.
“Several different types of separators as an alternative to the current concrete structures, will be trailed, along with a shared path.
“We will be monitoring the trial area and the rest of the corridor and report back to council in September. This will inform the elected members’ decision on what will happen next.”
Tim Tam Alley was the subject of two presentations due to be heard at the first meeting of the council’s new Public Engagement Committee.
The mayor established the committee to give the public a greater opportunity to speak directly with councillors and influence council decisions.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
