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A year after Brighton woman Clare Rutter was killed in a car accident in Blackhead Rd, her devastated husband is saying he has had enough of the "treacherous" Dunedin road riddled with a history of crashes.

Paul Rutter said it was only a matter of time before another person was killed.

"I heard just recently that another lady was in hospital, seriously injured, after crashing on Blackhead Rd ."

The incident happened on February 3, at the corner near the quarry where his wife was killed.

"I’ve just had enough. It’s not about us. I’m hoping this [going public] will save someone else’s family from going through the same trauma that we’ve gone through."

He has called on the Dunedin City Council to make significant changes to the road to make it safer.

A council spokesman agreed the road was problematic and a raft of changes were planned, to make the road safer.

Mr Rutter said the family had not yet received a report on the official cause of his wife’s accident, but he believed it was caused by "summer ice".

"What basically happened was, we had had really hot weather, and on the day of the accident, there was a bit of rain and the road became really slippery.

"She was on the corner at the bottom of the hill, by the entrance to the quarry. Her car skidded and hit another car."

Mr Rutter praised council staff for finishing the roundabout at the top of Blackhead Rd, by the Tunnel Beach turnoff.

Paul Rutter wants changes made to Blackhead Rd after his wife, Clare, died in a car crash there...
Paul Rutter wants changes made to Blackhead Rd after his wife, Clare, died in a car crash there on December 5, 2020. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
"That’s made a difference. But all they’ve done for that bottom corner by the quarry is put a speed restriction sign in.

"I do believe that it doesn’t matter what speed you’re going on that corner, the road is treacherous in those slippery conditions."

Mr Rutter believed the road had to be resurfaced and he would also like to see the road realigned or a roundabout with judder bars put before the corner, incorporating the quarry entrance.

Either would slow down traffic enough to safely navigate around the corner, he said.

"I’m not a roading engineer, but something’s got to be done."

Dunedin City Council infrastructure and development general manager Simon Drew said the council was concerned by the accidents in Blackhead Rd.

"We’re aware of 19 accidents in total along the entire length of Blackhead Rd since the start of 2017. The majority have been non-injury (12), while seven have resulted in injuries, including one fatality at the tight curve."

Mr Drew said the council planned to improved the safety of the tight curve near Blackhead Quarry, by resurfacing the road next month to improve traction in the wet.

"The speed limit in the area has already been reduced from 80kmh to 50kmh temporarily, and ‘slippery when wet’ signage has been installed. Both measures will remain in place until the resurfacing work is completed."

Mr Rutter was pleased the council had acknowledged the problem and said the road resealing was a good start.

"But it’s not enough. It’s only really a first step."

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

Comments

"The speed limit in the area has already been reduced from 80kmh to 50kmh temporarily..." Temporarily?! A narrow, steep, two way, mixed traffic road should never have been 80kmh to start with. The same can be said for many Dunedin roads. Morris Rd for example, with its 80kph central section. Despite runners, walkers ( and their dogs) and cyclists all using it, with signage indicating this is the bike route to Mosgiel, there is only 2 car lanes and a narrow, rough gravel margin for most of the middle 80kmh zone. Roads should be set to a lower limit first, then shown to be safe for higher speeds, not the other way around.

 

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