Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan Secondary Arterial Routes are of strategic district importance and are a significant element in the local economy for which an appropriate level of user service must be provided. Collector Routes are locally preferred roads between or within areas of population or activities, complementing arterial routes, and having pavements and road geometry in keeping with the operational safety standards required for traffic volumes on each section of the road. Local A Roads are all other roads serving more than three residences, and Local B Roads are those serving less than three residences and less than ten vehicles per day. The classification of roads determines their elements and controls, their width, street lighting, road signs, parking restrictions, activities, etc. A result of designing a road according to its classification is to make the roading pattern clearer to the motoring public. The “higher” the classification the more priority is afforded to the movement of through traffic and, conversely, the “lower” the order the more priority given to access (pedestrian, servicing and parking). The higher order roads can also be expected to cater for higher traffic flows, although this is not a universal rule. Higher intensity use should not however impair the operational efficiency or safety of the arterial road concerned. To ensure this does not occur direct access to arterial roads may be controlled. A limited increase in traffic generation may be tolerated without alternative access, provided the number of direct access points to the arterial is reduced. On non-arterial roads, residential density is unlikely to be constrained by capacity, but will be influenced by safety issues and the acceptability of increased flows to existing residents. Safety issues will be influenced principally by carriageway width, alignment, visibility and traffic speed. Where appropriate, techniques will be used to discourage traffic in areas where it would have adverse environmental effects. Such techniques are implemented outside of the Plan, and include road closures, narrowing of carriageways, turn restrictions, one-way roads restrictions, and other bylaw based controls. 19.5 Objectives and Policies Objective 1 Continue to maintain and build a hierarchical network of roads. Policy 1.1 To protect the function of the road network and the environment of adjacent land uses from the adverse effects of high traffic generators. Policy 1.2 To plan legal and paved road widths to reflect the different functions of various elements of the road hierarchy. (Refer to General Rules, Volume Two) Policy 1.3 To take account of social and environmental impacts as well as economic benefits when planning changes to the road network. Policy 1.4 To manage the establishment of activities in a manner which takes account of the classification and function of the road network in the vicinity and from which access to the site is to be obtained. 19 - 6