The minister listened to arguments about whether the State Highway 1 pair of one-way routes in central Dunedin should be retained or replaced by a two-way traffic model, and he viewed progress on building a shared path to Port Chalmers and what is envisaged for a cycleway to Mosgiel, featuring old railway tunnels.
Some change to the transport network is needed to offset the traffic disruption associated with the new Dunedin Hospital being built in the city centre.
Cr O’Malley has previously spoken out about what he has described as insufficient national investment in Dunedin as a regional centre, leading to suboptimal roading solutions.
He cited modifications to a harbour arterial route in Dunedin as evidence of a piecemeal approach that would yield an underwhelming impact.
Cr O’Malley, who is the council’s infrastructure services chairman and its representative on a regional transport committee, had no involvement in the minister’s trip.
"I don’t want to be left out a second time," Cr O’Malley said.
He felt the Government had underestimated the city’s regional importance.
If Cr O’Malley had his way, he would be part of a delegation to Wellington that would spend several days there and make clear what needed to be done in Dunedin.
The Transport Minister’s visit was organised after some disagreement between Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and the Dunedin City Council about proposed improvements near the planned new hospital.
Waka Kotahi’s board backed a business case that included retaining the one-way pair, but the council preferred a two-way model as an alternative starting point for discussion.
Waka Kotahi system design regional manager Richard Osborne said the transport agency would continue to work with the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council to put in place the best solutions achievable.
Survey results of people in Dunedin have been in favour of keeping the one-way system, but the Southern District Health Board has been among parties arguing for a two-way model.
One issue not traversed during Mr Wood’s visit was what should be done about SH1’s intersection with Great King St, which leads to North East Valley.
A series of crashes there in recent years resulted from motorists attempting to cross the highway.
Mr Wood said he had asked officials to report back to him on the issue.
