News

T he Dunedin City Council has recently decided to publish a list of current roadworks to its website. The list, which was first posted last week, will be updated each Friday. Depending on feedback, the list may soon be published on social media, said Cr Kate Wilson, Chairwoman of the Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee. It is modelled on a similar roadworks site launched in Southland.

The decision is in response to the frustrations of Dunedin residents, whose travel time is often delayed because they are unaware of roadworks taking place in their area. Now, residents will be able to check the site and plan their route accordingly. The site is also useful for residents who want to be notified when crews will be working on their road.

University student Alix Muir said she is “beyond excited” about the new site. “It’s an awesome idea! I feel like it will make travel time so much easier. My flatmates and I were doing our weekly shop last week, and had to change our whole course due to roadworks. Being unaware of them not only takes time, but also costs valuable petrol money. Now that I am able to see them online, it will be so much easier.”

Wilson hopes that the site will promote communication between city council members and Dunedin residents. “It will help with transparency,” she said.

Wilson wants to wait until she has received the necessary feedback to see if the site truly benefits Dunedin residents before the site is expanded to social media. If the council decides to expand the project, updates will likely appear on Facebook.

The site lists the type of delay that will be occurring (i.e. speed restrictions, traffic management) followed by a list of roads on which the work will take place. At the bottom of the page, there is a link to road closures and road conditions.

To access the site, visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/roadworks.