Construction will begin in the new year on State Highway 1 safety improvements between Levin and Foxton.
SH1 Levin to Foxton safety improvements
New turning facilities, flexible median and side barrier installation and a new roundabout will feature as part of the project.
Work is scheduled to start on 9 January, in the second week of the new year.
A blessing was held to the side of SH1 at Foxton on Tuesday morning to mark the start of stage one of construction. The blessing was led by Hayden Turoa from the local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and supported by Dean Wilson from Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and Hohepa Isaac-Sharland from Rangitāne O Manawatū. There were also representatives from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and contractor Downer.
Between 2018 and 2022, there were 122 crashes on this stretch of road which resulted in five people dying and 20 being seriously injured.
NZTA Principal Project Manager, Wayne Holcroft, says these improvements will help make this stretch of road much safer.
“These improvements will make this route safer for all road users and provide a vital connection to the new highway from Ōtaki to north of Levin, which is expected to be completed in 2029.
“Flexible median barrier we’ve recently installed south of Levin is already helping to improve safety. To date it has been hit five times. Each time it is hit a potential serious head-on crash is avoided.”
The infrastructure improvements are being constructed in stages.
People driving SH1 will begin to see improvements between Foxton and Manawatū River Bridge (Whirokino), including a turnaround at the southern entrance to Foxton for people heading south and painted wide centrelines. Flexible median barrier will also be installed up to the existing median barrier at the bridge.
During construction, there will be temporary traffic management in place at various locations along this stretch of state highway. Road users are advised to expect delays and drive to the conditions during the work.
As specific stages of the project get underway, NZTA will keep road users up to date with changes to traffic management, through traffic bulletins and on our interactive updated Journey Planner.
