Road users in Manawatū, Whanganui and Taranaki are being reminded to plan ahead with a number of road closures or traffic management planned for Anzac Day commemorations.
Anzac Day events are set to take place in a number of locations around Taranaki, Manawatū and Whanganui, on state highways and other, council-operated roads.
In Taranaki, the following state highways will be closed for a period during next Tuesday (Anzac Day):
SH3/3A Inglewood: Road closures in place from 5am to 1pm
SH3 Pio Pio: Road closures between Kea Street and Weka Street in place from 8am to 2:30pm
SH3 Stratford: Road closures in place from 10am to 11am
SH44 New Plymouth: Road closures in place from 5:30am to 7:30am
In Manawatū, Horowhenua and Whanganui, the following roads will have traffic control in place on Anzac Day:
SH1 Levin: Traffic to be stopped in both directions for up to 5 minutes at 10:15am and 11:30am
SH1 Hunterville: Stop/Go controls will be in place near Bruce Street from 4:30am to 12pm
SH1 Taihape: Stop/Go controls will be in place near Hautapu Street from 4am to 10am
And the following roads will be closed for a period during Anzac Day:
SH1 Bulls: Road closures between Bridge Street and Wilson Street from 5:30am to 7:30am
SH57 Shannon: Road closures between Vogel Street and Plimmer Terrace and Vance Street and Grey Street from 10:30am to 1pm
“It’s really important people plan their journey – there will be detours available to avoid the closures; and road users should expect delays if they’re travelling near commemorative sites with temporary traffic management in place,” says Waka Kotahi Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki Journey Manager, Liesl Dawson.
“With school holidays coming to an end we’re also expecting some people will be taking Monday off and making a long weekend with the public holiday on Tuesday. As a result we might see more holiday traffic in the regions. We love seeing holidaymakers enjoying our regions. There’s plenty to see and enjoy – so there’s no need to rush, after all, you’re on holiday, so enjoy the drive.
“There’s likely to be some congestion and delays at peak times, but the most important thing is that everyone gets to where they’re going safely. Be patient, drive to the conditions and please keep speeds down.”
“We all have a part to play in making our roads safer for everyone,” says Ms Dawson.
Top tips for safe holiday journeys
Check your vehicle is safe to drive. Check your tyres, wipers, lights and indicators, and ensure you have a valid Warrant of Fitness before you leave.
Please be patient when driving this long weekend so everyone can relax and enjoy their holiday.
Drive to the conditions – whether it’s the weather, the road you’re on, the time of day or the volume of traffic on the roads.
Slow down. Even when speed doesn’t cause a crash, it is always a factor in the severity and can be the difference between a person being killed, seriously injured, or walking away from a crash.
Take regular breaks to stay alert.
Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely.
