Summary
According to the Bay of Plenty Times:
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Locals on Osprey Drive in Welcome Bay are complaining about speed cushions and vibration issues.
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Speed cushions are small speed bumps designed so that larger vehicles (e.g. buses and fire engines) can drive with their tires on either side of the bump to avoid being jolted by the raised structure. Motorcycles and bicycles can also avoid the bump on speed cushions.
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One resident complained that large vehicles, mainly buses, failed to drive over the speed cushions in the correct way and/or often exceeded the bumps’ signposted speed of 25km/h.
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Residents contacted the local newspaper after reading an article about a raised platform being removed in another Tauranga suburb (Matua) due to vibration issues.
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Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and local bus companies were contacted and provided comments on the situation.
Quotes
She said their house vibrated like it was being hit by “mini earthquakes” numerous times a day when buses “thumped” down the 50km/h road.
“A couple of weekends ago, the shaking was so bad it felt like a five on the Richter scale. I’ve been through the Edgecumbe earthquake so I know what that feels like,” Burrows said.
As well as the noise disruption. their home had developed small cracks on the outside and hairline cracks inside. They “constantly worried” about the damage.
“We have started asking drivers to [slow down] because our house is shaking so much.”
They and their neighbours were “fed up” with having their complaints to the council and bus companies seemingly brushed aside.
“We’ve had apologies but little action and we’ve waited a very long time for a resolution. We just want this speed bump gone.
“The council ripped out the raised table crossing in Matua, so I don’t see why our speed bump cannot be removed for our identical problem.”
Osprey Drive resident as quoted in the Bay of Plenty Times
“We’ll monitor the situation, and if the problem continues, there are other options in our toolkit, including using cameras to monitor speeds and testing vibration levels.”
Removing speed calming measures was only considered when the noise and vibration levels breached “acceptable standards”
Tauranga City Council acting manager Karen Hay as quoted in the Bay of Plenty Times
Article Details
Headline: Welcome Bay residents call for removal of speed bump due to vibration impacts
Author: Sandra Conchie
Published on: 11 November 2024
Published by: Bay of Plenty Times and NZ Herald
Link:
