Changes to two intersections off Commerce Street, which could result in the loss of five carparks in the town centre, have been approved by Whakatāne district councillors.

A report to Whakatāne District Council’s infrastructure and planning committee yesterday set out minor works to resolve issues with the Louvain Street and Shapley Place intersections.

Transport trucks, particularly those that delivered goods to Countdown supermarket, could not get into or out of the Louvain Street intersection due to the configuration of islands.

The council plans to remove the no-right-turn restriction to the intersection, which is ignored by some drivers anyway, and change the shape of the island to allow trucks delivering goods to the supermarket to access the street. It is hoped that this would stop them having to park on the centre of Commerce Street when offloading.

The report said visibility to the right when pulling out of Louvain Street had been improved due to no-stopping lines at the right of the intersection, meaning the no-right-turn restriction was no longer necessary.

Up to five car parks could be lost along Commerce Street to make way for a stacking lane for cars turning right into Shapley Place.

Many near misses had been reported at the intersection that connects Commerce and Boon streets beside the council building. The lack of a stacking area was causing vehicles travelling straight through to veer left into the cycle lane and parking area. At other times cars waiting to turn crossed the centreline and were at risk of being hit by an oncoming vehicle.

The removal of three car parks to the south of the intersection and two to the north would allow for realignment of the northbound lane closer to Shapley Place, making room for a centre stacking lane.

Infrastructure general manager Bevan Gray said at the meeting that councillor John Pullar had suggested making Shapley Place into a one-way street, so that traffic would no longer need to exit onto Commerce Street. He said that was something staff would be “looking to progress”.

No mention was given as to when the work was likely to occur.

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