Roadworks aimed at reducing speed and the number of accidents at a Greerton intersection are nothing more than a waste of taxpayer money, says one angered resident.

Mansels Road resident Mike O'Brien with the recently installed traffic island and concrete speed humps. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The work costing $8000 at the Chadwick and Mansels road intersection is nearing completion as part of Tauranga City Council's city-wide road safety works programme.

Mansels Road, once unblemished, now has raised concrete speed humps in both directions and a traffic island as motorists near Chadwick Road – to the dismay of Mike O'Brien.

'All of the residents say they can't believe it and what a waste of taxpayer money it is.”

Mike, who is wheelchair bound, says he was told by Opus International consultants the work is being undertaken to slow traffic down and reduce the number of accidents at the roundabout.

He believes the changes are unnecessary additions to the neighbourhood's road.

'I am in a wheelchair and have watched the intersection, all the vehicles slow down already coming to a stop at the intersection. There is no need for it.”

Tauranga City Council traffic safety and planning specialist Wayne Thompsonsays the site is one of 28 across the city being modified or improved as part of council's annual minor road safety works programme.

Council deem the intersection a problem with regards to speed, with three crashes recorded between September 2013 and February 2014, he says.

'There have been a number of speed related crashes over the past five years and also crashes relating to vehicles failing to stop or give way.”

Mike says the additions, particularly the traffic island, will also pose problems for buses attempting to turn into the street.

'The street is very narrow and the buses struggle to get round the corner as is.”