A survey of Business South members showed an 87% preference for retaining the pair of one-way routes.
Commentary from the 47 respondents included that shifting to two-way traffic would impede access to some businesses, create unnecessary traffic congestion and increase costs.
An alternative view was a two-way system would give the city a more unified feel, instead of it being divided by two arterial roads that "effectively unhinge one part of the city from the other".
Transport authorities say some changes to the city’s network are needed to offset traffic disruption associated with the building of the new Dunedin Hospital in the central city and government spending worth tens of millions of dollars is planned.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s board backed a business case that included an upgrade of SH1, retaining the one-way pair, but the Dunedin City Council advocated for a two-way model "as the basis for future discussion".
This could include adding a northbound lane to SH1 in Castle St and making Cumberland St a two-way local road.
The Southern District Health Board is one organisation backing such an approach, as it could provide better connections between the hospital, University of Otago and the city and foster an improved environment for walking and cycling.
Several surveys, including one for Waka Kotahi in 2020, indicate strong resistance from the public to significant change.
Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar said a petition calling for retention of the one-way system would be presented to Parliament next week.
It had attracted 750 signatures at last count, Mrs Millar said.
Business South said its survey had a small sample from a good cross-section of industry types. Sixty percent of respondents said the one-way system suited their businesses for passing trade and supply chains.
Asked if a two-way system might improve environmental sustainability outcomes, 11% were positive or very positive about that, a combined 51% indicated it would be negative or very negative and 38% were neutral.
Allied Press chief executive Grant McKenzie said changing the one-way system could have a significant impact on the operations of the media company.
Allied Press — publisher of the Otago Daily Times and an extensive network of community newspapers — is located at the corner of Stuart St and Cumberland St.
Introducing two-way traffic to Cumberland St could cause a big problem getting stock in and out of the premises, Mr McKenzie said.
"Anything that slows down traffic movements across the city will have a detrimental effect on businesses and the public," he said.
Leviathan Hotel owner Peter Laing said the one-way pair accommodated large volumes of traffic and he doubted a two-way model could cope adequately.
Investore Property owns the Countdown supermarket site in Cumberland St. Fund manager Fabio Pagano said his instinct was a change to two-way traffic would not make much difference to the supermarket.
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Comments
I am sure many more would have signed the Greypower petition if they had been aware of it. The govt may listen (though that might be a first) but DCC certainly won't.
"alternative view was a two-way system would give the city a more unified feel"
Absolutely. It will give the city very much unified feel of traffic jams and congestions.
DCC leave the one-ways alone! We know you are hell-bent to spoil motorists' lives in our poor little city (and apparently running out of options to do so) but maybe you finally do something in the interest of your employers i.e. ratepayers instead, just for change?