Improvements are on the way for some of the district’s dangerous rural intersections.
A coroner’s report into a triple fatality recommended reviewing 79 similar rural intersections, which Ashburton District Council’s infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said has been completed.
Coroner Marcus Elliott had asked the council in May to review the road signage and markings at 79 rural intersections similar to the one at Hepburns Road and Mitcham Road where the triple fatality occurred in 2019.
“A variety of improvements have been determined at 75 of those intersections,” McCann said.
“A report is currently being written on the issues found, proposed improvements, and estimated costs, and will be presented to council at an upcoming meeting.”
The improvements include upgrading the size of the signs, installing advance warning signs and vegetation control, he said.
“Depending on the type of improvement they will be funded from current maintenance, operational or renewals budgets.”
Any improvements above that, such as splitter islands or active warning signs, will require additional funding, he said.
The report on the proposed intersection improvements will go before the council next month.
McCann has previously said the Hepburns-Mitcham roads intersection was compliant under Waka Kotahi’s guidelines in April, 2019, when the fatal crash occurred.
Following the accident, he said the council changed the intersection from a give way to a stop sign, clearing away vegetation and removing a concrete irrigation drain headwall.
They have also added additional larger stop signs as per the coroner’s report.
Before the coroner’s report, the council was already investigating possible improvements for 12 dangerous intersections – at both rural and urban locations
“We routinely undertake safety analyses of intersections, based on crash data provided by Waka Kotahi, and reports from road users and council staff observations,” McCann said.
“The recent high-risk intersection analysis identified 12 intersections as medium to medium-low risk.”
Some improvements at those intersections have already been made, he said, such as improved signage as well as vegetation control.
“Other more substantive improvements like providing street lighting, installing central islands or turning bays, will be considered in future work programmes, as they will require additional funding,” McCann said.

• By Jonathan Leask