New safer rail crossing for Paekakariki residents

Paekākāriki residents are making good use of a new, safer rail crossing for pedestrians from Tilley Road to State Highway 1.

The upgraded crossing was funded by Council and built by Kiwi Rail after longstanding requests from the Paekākāriki Community Board.

Paekākāriki Ward Councillor and former Community Board Chair Janet Holborow says people had been using the route for years and beaten an informal path.

"Now the old dirt track, over farm land, acquired by NZTA, has a metal surface and a new pedestrian rail crossing provided, complete with safety signs.”

She says there was a bit of red tape to work through between the agencies to get the job done but she is happy it is finally complete.

“It is a legally formatted crossing over the rail tracks with what is called ‘maze’ fencing and signs which make it so much safer, particularly for school children.”

Councillor Holborow says the real credit for the crossing finally becoming a reality belongs to long standing and hardworking community board member, Betty Perkins.

Over the two years I was on the board with her, she would frequently raise the idea of a railway crossing for the children to get to school safely. It's great it's finally been achieved.”

The track is being used mostly by residents from a cluster of houses on SH1 to get to and from Tilley Road. This includes children attending Paekākāriki. School.