The point in Te Awamutu where Cambridge Road starts at the intersection of Arawata Street and Ōhaupō roads. Photo: Jeremy Smith
A hang over from the borough council era is challenging emergency services, confusing motorists and even putting taxi drivers wrong.
Waipā has a number of roads which start in one place and reappear in another and have both rapid and old style numbering systems.
And Cambridge’s fire chief has echoed readers’ concerns about the ongoing confusion around some street and road names.
Dennis Hunt said having two Cambridge Roads either side of the Waikato River was confusing for emergency services, though recent mobile phone technology had made it easier.
In Te Awamutu deputy fire chief Karl Tutty confirmed fire communications were very good at confirming cross-streets, intersections and landmark if firefighters did not have a street or rapid number.
“If there is doubt there is the ‘long road’ policy that sends resources from both ends until location is confirmed. And obviously our local knowledge can play a part.
“We were worried when agencies moved to calling state highways by their local names that there would be some confusion, for example Ōhaupō Road north and south of Ōhaupō, but we haven’t really seen any issue there.
“We also have some very similar names McKay and MacKay, Bank Street and Bank Road, Factory Road and Pokuru Factory Road, Alexander and Alexandra but again I can’t recall any confusion.”
The issue of public confusion over the road names was raised in The News by letter writer Deborah Christiansen’s letter calling for a section of Cambridge Road in Cambridge to be renamed Hamilton Road.
Cambridge Road starts in Hamilton at the intersection of Naylor Street and Wairere Drive, then weaves through Hillcrest and out to Tamahere along the Waikato Expressway until the western off ramp to Cambridge. It resumes on the outskirts of Cambridge, and again in Leamington heading off to Te Awamutu.
Yvonne Lomey said with all the development happening between the Velodrome and Cambridge, now was the right time to rename the road.
Hunt said the “only grace for us now is they (emergency operators) fire us a cross reference when they can so we might get Cambridge Road/Kaipaki Road and we know which way we are going”.
Taxi driver Rickstar Tipene said some numbers appeared on both Cambridge roads.
“Confusion comes with taxis when people call and ask for a taxi, they give the address and don’t give further details. It’s not until the addresses are over 1913 that we can be clear of which road it is.”
Waipā District Growth and Regulatory Services group manager Wayne Allan said the council could only act to change the name of the road if there was public/resident support.
The point where Pope Terrace in Leamington becomes Cambridge Road leading to Te Awamutu. Photo: Jeremy Smith.
