Speed bumps altered after bus-ride injury

Contractors make adjustments where a speed bump is being installed in Portobello Rd, Dunedin,...
Contractors make adjustments where a speed bump is being installed in Portobello Rd, Dunedin, this week. The work is at the intersection with Marion St in Macandrew Bay. The bump had previously been installed "with slightly too steep an angle", a Dunedin City Council spokesman said. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN
A bumpy bus ride that resulted in a boy hitting his head has been followed by a prompt reworking of speed bumps on the Otago Peninsula.

The 13-year-old was taken to Dunedin Hospital after he fell when the bus went over a new pair of bumps in Portobello Rd, Dunedin, too quickly on June 30.

The incident, as well as subsequent questions from the community, prompted the Dunedin City Council and its contractor to examine the bumps ahead of a scheduled inspection.

"We can confirm our contractor has been making minor adjustments to speed bumps installed on Portobello Rd recently, after identifying they had been installed with slightly too steep an angle," a council spokesman said.

"The speed bumps were narrowly outside our specification and the contractor is fixing them at their expense."

The inspection had been due to be conducted after completion of the project.

Speed bumps are part of a $75,000 road safety project around Macandrew Bay.

Passengers were thrown into the air on June 30 when the bus went over the bumps.

The 13-year-old boy fell at the back of the bus and hit his head on a seat.

Police said on Monday no charges had been laid and an investigation was ongoing.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz

 

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