Its approach to speed limits could prevent it from bringing in a lower limit for traffic flowing between the planned inpatient and outpatient buildings, it emerged at a Dunedin City Council meeting yesterday.
It was also disclosed the government’s announcement last month about downgrading the planned hospital to either a downscaled version or a retrofit at the old site had prompted transport officials to delay changes intended to promote accessibility and safety.
A new inpatient building may not proceed.
At yesterday’s council infrastructure services committee meeting, Cr Carmen Houlahan asked what was happening with St Andrew St, State Highway 88.
The road had been described by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi as one of the most important links to the planned new hospital and it was expected there would be more people walking in the area and crossing the street.
Responding to Cr Houlahan’s question, council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the project had been "fairly full steam" with the transport agency until three or four weeks ago amid the government’s hospital announcement.
The agency was "having a think" and she expected transport planners to regroup.
Ms Benson said intentions for St Andrew St had included calming traffic there and slowing it.
She then confirmed for Cr Houlahan the government’s own rules would get in the way of lowering the speed limit.
Several councillors expressed puzzlement about the government’s approach to speed limits in general and safety.
"This government seems intent on putting dollars ahead of lives," Cr Kevin Gilbert said.
There seemed to be a contradiction between the government purporting to have a focus on safety when its primary focus was on keeping the economic wheels turning, he said.
Another thorny subject was how traffic problems in Mosgiel might be dealt with.
It seemed motorists there could be waiting for several years before meaningful changes had a realistic chance of occurring.
A Mosgiel transport plan was listed as unlikely to be endorsed by the transport agency.
The city council would likely then need to come up with all the funding to produce a plan.
Some changes to the intersection of SH1 and SH87 at Mosgiel for "optimisation" are set to be considered anyway, but this typically covers such things as changing traffic light phases or moving lane markings.
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said this scale of change would be viewed as well short of what was required.
Cr Houlahan was also dismayed by the government making it more difficult for a cycling and walking trail to be constructed between Dunedin and Mosgiel.
Councils were left in the position of "picking up the pieces of the mess this government has left us", she said.
