Council to consider options for Alexandra Street crossing

A school student’s petition calling for a pedestrian crossing outside Te Awamutu College was put to Waipā District Council's Service Delivery Committee yesterday, with staff asked to consider the option as part of its draft 2027-37 Long Term Plan.

Te Awamutu College year 13 student James Crowhurst delivered the petition to the committee with a well-researched presentation, backed by 336 signatures from fellow students, teachers, parents and the wider community.

His petition asks for a pedestrian-activated traffic light crossing on Alexandra Street, pointing to ongoing safety concerns for students crossing the busy road at peak times.

“Students have been hit by cars and drivers are on high alert as they worry about possibly injuring someone. With a crossing put onto Alexandra Street outside Te Awamutu College, road users will be able to safely cooperate and there will be less risk of injuries,” he said.

Council's Transportation manager Bryan Hudson spoke to the committee about the merits of a signalised crossing as a solution for the site and indicated it would cost around $500,000.

Group manager service delivery Eeva-Liisa Wright said the petition reflects real concern from the community about student safety.

“It's great to see a young person take this much care and effort putting a case together, and we want to make sure it gets a proper look as we plan our future investment in Te Awamutu.”

The committee directed staff to consider crossing options for Te Awamutu College including Alexandra Street as part of the draft Long Term Plan process, which will go out for community consultation early next year.