Queenstown's first traffic light-controlled intersection at the junction of Ballarat and Stanley Streets on State Highway 6A. (Twitter/@craigmclachlan3)

Traffic lights a first for Queenstown

Author: Newstalk ZB staff ,
Publish Date: Sat, 7 May 2016, 8:14PM

The growing tourist mecca of Queenstown has its first traffic light-controlled intersection, and a second is due next month.

NZTA and Queenstown Lakes District Council have jointly funded the lights at the intersection of Ballarat and Stanley Streets on State Highway 6A into Queenstown.

Transport Agency transport planning manager Tony Sizemore said the town's population is growing, and the lights are needed to manage pedestrian safety and congestion at peak times.

He said the traffic signal timings will automatically adjust to traffic volumes, and they can be remotely managed to cope with changing traffic patterns, such as seasonal tourism.

The second set of lights, replacing the roundabout intersection of Shotover and Stanley Streets, will be launched ahead of next month's Queenstown Winter Festival.

@NZTAOS is expecting central Queenstown’s first set of traffic lights to be operational in the next few days https://t.co/fbO7Z0Uen0
— QLDC (@QueenstownLakes) May 6, 2016