During two days last week, I had the misfortune to have to use the Cameron Rd/15th Ave intersection. Misfortune, indeed.
On both occasions, I was travelling from east to west, and on both occasions, mid-afternoon, the queue of traffic was back past Devonport Rd, and almost to Fraser St.
The intersection has been a shambles for months, but the council in the past three-four weeks have exceeded their wildest dreams in traffic disruption.
Sitting in the queue of traffic, heading out of the city towards Bethlehem, I had considerable time to see just how long the lights stayed green. It's 20-25 seconds, allowing approximately five-six cars each phase.
All other directional phases were considerably longer. I would have thought that if the council are changing traffic flow lanes, then some sort of extended phasing would have been common sense? But on past history of this organisation, common sense is in very short supply. I need only mention the names Bella Vista, and Hamilton St parking building.
Thank you Tauranga City Council for making this city now one of the most unliveable. You have achieved what you obviously have set out to do!
Gary Kenny, Bethlehem.

*** Tauranga City Council director of transport Brendan Bisley replies:
The Building our future - Cameron Road upgrades have progressed to a stage where we need to upgrade the key intersections (Fifteenth and Eleventh Avenues, and Elizabeth St). To do this, we need to remove vehicle lanes on the approaches to build new kerb and this does impact traffic flow as there are less lanes for traffic, causing queues back further than normal. The work on the Fifteenth Ave intersection has been carefully planned and involves both day and night works, so the team can work as efficiency as possible, within what is a very restricted worksite.
We have worked to reduce lanes of traffic only where absolutely necessary to limit disruption, while maintaining both the existing signalised intersection and live traffic flows.
Council also adjusts the traffic light phases to accommodate the changes and minimise the impacts of the lane reductions on the various approaches. Working on one of Tauranga's busiest intersections poses many challenges and we understand the frustrations that traffic delays can cause.
Road users are advised to prepare for traffic delays during construction in this area, to allow extra time and plan journeys accordingly.