Motorists at a major Cromwell intersection are having to re-familiarise themselves with give-way rules as a change in road layout leaves some confused.

A traffic island and give-way signs were removed where State Highway 8 meets State Highway 8B near Deadman’s Point Bridge, but weeks on locals are taking to community Facebook pages to complain of near misses as drivers second guess navigating the junction.

The changes were made by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) with input from local police.

A NZTA spokesperson said the agency was aware the intersection had been a topic of discussion on social media, and two people had contacted it directly with concerns.

However, the spokesperson said the changes were intended to simplify the intersection and make it easier to use.

“The give-way signs on the left turn slip lane have been removed, meaning that people coming from Tarras and turning right must give way to all oncoming traffic coming straight or turning left from the Alexandra direction,” they said.

“We ask people to take care travelling through the intersection and while adjusting to the change.”

The intersection was a well-documented road safety black spot.

NZTA data shows between 2021 and 2025 there were three serious injury crashes, three minor injury crashes and seven non-injury crashes at the site.

“The serious crashes occurred in 2024 and 2025; 11 of the crashes involved turning vehicles,” the spokesperson said.

An electronic sign warns right-turning motorists to give way after a roading layout change at a major Cromwell intersection. Image: The Central App

Otago Lakes Central acting road policing manager Sergeant Derek Ealson said the number of crashes in recent years prompted police to request a review of the intersection and how it could be made safer.

“Our job is to ensure everybody is safe on the roads; our feedback assists partner agencies in any decisions around road changes,” they said.

The Central App visited the intersection on Tuesday afternoon to observe traffic conditions first-hand.

In the five minutes a reporter spent at the site, one right-turning driver heading from Tarras towards Cromwell stopped mid-turn, appearing uncertain, while another failed to give way, forcing a left-turning vehicle heading from Alexandra to brake heavily and sound its horn.

Signage is in place at the intersection alerting road users to the new layout.

The changes were completed last month to coincide with road resurfacing work.

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