Bombay to Pukekohe route to stay dark

Clearer road markings are on the way for the key road between Bombay and Pukekohe, but don’t expect any improvements to the lighting.

In a letter to the editor (Franklin Times, September 26), D. Peters outlined concerns around the lack of streetlights from Bombay through to Pukekohe on Mill Road and Pukekohe East Road.

“The darkness, once the sun goes down, makes the road extremely dangerous; the lights from oncoming traffic as you come down the dips and then up-and-over the humps are absolutely blinding; the white markings are almost impossible to see in the dark; and the road, despite being the main gateway to Pukekohe, is more reminiscent of a dark, country road leading into the back of Middlemarch!”

The road from Pukekohe to Bombay is predominantly in the Auckland Region, with a section of the southern side of Mill Road in the Waikato District.

A spokesperson for Auckland Transport (AT) said there were no proposals to light this route for safety reasons.

“As the urban boundary moves out, then street lighting will be installed. Road intersections along the route, as well as the section of road adjacent to the Bombay service centre, are lit.”

The AT spokesperson said poor weather in September slowed the re-marking programme.

“Weather permitting, the Mill Road and Pukekohe East Road re-marking will be completed during the next two weeks.”

As this is an Auckland Council road, residents and motorists can request maintenance or report damage to road markings to AT via this link.

• The Franklin Times would like to clarify that Jacqui Church, who was mentioned in the letter, was not the Waikato District Mayor or on the council in 2012. She was not offered the right of reply before publishing the letter, despite being the subject of the letter-writer’s accusations. We have now changed our process for letters to the editor.