People who travel on State Highway 3 (SH3) between the Awakino Gorge and Mt Messenger are being asked to share their thoughts on the route, as the NZ Transport Agency explores ways to boost safety and efficiency in the area.
As part of the Government’s $212M Accelerated Regional Roading Package, the Transport Agency is in the early stages of investigating ways to improve the stretch of highway.
This section of SH3, which is the main route between New Plymouth and Hamilton, travels through rough terrain, and as a result is windy and narrow and prone to rockfalls and slips.
The Transport Agency’s Waikato highways manager, Kaye Clark, says the investigation will focus on improving safety, freight efficiency and the resilience of the route. The possibility of increasing the number of passing opportunities will also be looked at.
Ms Clark says an online feedback form has been set up to allow people who use the route to have their say on what is important to them as the investigations get underway.
“We want to hear from the public as we start to identify the challenges and possible improvements along this stretch of highway,” she says.
“We are encouraging people to tell us how they use this corridor, their thoughts on key areas and how we could consider improving it.
“The specific projects and work to be undertaken along the corridor will depend on findings from the investigation.Feedback received from the community will help develop the potential safety and efficiently improvements.”
Submissions close on Monday, 13 April 2015 at 5pm.
People can keep up to date with the project and fill out the feedback form here: www.nzta.govt.nz/awakino(external link)
For more information please contact:
Natalie Dixon
Waikato / Bay of Plenty Media Manager
T: 07 928 7908
M: 021 928 413
E: natalie.dixon@nzta.govt.nz
