A fourth set of traffic lights is set to be installed on Halifax St, this time at the intersection of St Vincent St, to help manage the flow of the almost 11,000 vehicles that pass through it every day.
Traffic lights will replace the current small roundabout which was installed at the busy intersection in the 90s to replace a larger roundabout that had been in place since the 70s.
Nelson City Council has considered traffic signals at the site since as early as 2014, with improved safety, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists the primary driver.
Asset planning manager David Light says, with the ongoing St Vincent infrastructure upgrade, the council’s transport team saw an opportunity to improve safety.
“The geometry of the smaller roundabout allows some vehicles to travel through the roundabout in a straight line without slowing down, which has become problematic as cyclist numbers have increased.”
The intersection carries nearly 11,000 vehicles a day, is on a bus route, and is near an apartment complex and a school.
A safety audit was completed in June 2025, with design concepts finalised in August.
The safety audit made recommendations for the initial concept design to improve safety aspects. Recommendations included instigating a left in, left out restriction for vehicles entering and exiting Saltwater Creek Lane.
The audit also identified tight intersection geometry would require tight turning movements in some areas, and stated the potential for higher speeds with the removal of the roundabout central island would not improve safety for some crash categories.
It also raised concerns that cyclists who enter the southbound cycle lane from the northern Haven Rd approach, must look behind them and weave through the live left-turn vehicle lane, exposing themselves to conflict with vehicles turning left onto Halifax St. Further, traveling south across the intersection towards Spotlight, leaves cyclist exposed to vehicle conflict, potentially being trapped between southbound and eastbound (left-turning) vehicles because of lane layout.
“Council undertook targeted engagement in October last year with the businesses and residents most directly affected by the proposed traffic signals,” David says.
“Project team members hand-delivered information to nearby properties and spoke directly with businesses and residents.
“Feedback showed near-misses at the intersection were regularly witnessed, and measures to improve safety would be welcome. These stakeholders were also invited to provide formal feedback on the proposal, and no formal submissions were received.”
A safe system audit shows eight crashes occurred within 50m of the intersection between 2020 and 2024, with four involving cyclists.
Three crashes involved vehicles turning right from Halifax St failing to give way to southbound cyclists, while one involved a truck turning left from Haven Rd colliding with a left-turning cyclist. Each of those incidents resulted in minor injuries.
Four other crashes were non-injury incidents, including two vehicles turning right from Halifax St failing to give way, one rear-end crash on Haven Rd, and one loss of control.
Sun strike was also noted in crash reports.
David adds traffic modelling reviewed by NZTA’s Wellington Traffic Operations Centre shows signals will add delays, but there is a low risk of traffic backing up between Haven Rd and Rutherford St if signal phases are aligned with sets on Halifax St. The traffic lights are anticipated to be up and running from late October.
