Five improvement projects to roll out in Whangarei

The NZ Transport Agency and Whangarei District Council today announced five planned improvement projects along SH1 in Whangarei, aimed at helping to ease congestion and supporting economic growth in and around the city.

The NZ Transport Agency and Whangarei District Council today announced five planned improvement projects along SH1 in Whangarei, aimed at helping to ease congestion and supporting economic growth in and around the city.

The projects include intersection upgrades, widening of the state highway and roading improvements from Tarewa Road north to Percy Street. Some of the projects will be funded by the Government’s economic stimulus package which aims to help boost economic growth and productivity in the region by accelerating spending on key infrastructure projects.

NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland Tommy Parker says the projects are a significant boost for roading in Northland. “These projects will support economic growth, reduce congestion and improve safety for those travelling in and around the main city centre,” he says.

The projects include:

• A flush median barrier to be installed between Kensington Avenue and Kamo Road to enable safer and easier turning while also improving traffic flows
• Widening the state highway to four lanes is proposed between Fourth Avenue and Selwyn Avenue and also Tarewa Road to SH14 to create more capacity and ease congestion
• Widening all approaches to the SH1/SH14 intersection to advance traffic flows
• Signalising Tarewa Road to reduce accidents and better distribute traffic across the city centre

Whangarei District Council Mayor Stan Semenoff says the NZTA’s major spending on SH1 within the urban area will dramatically reduce travel times in and through the city.

“Traffic congestion has been a headache for Whangarei for a number of years, and I am delighted that our representations to Government have been recognised for inclusion in the economic stimulus package,” he says.

Construction is planned to start on the $20m series of projects early next year and is expected to take around two years to complete. The projects are currently in the investigation stage and are subject to funding approval. This follows an announcement earlier this month on the start of the Kamo Bypass Stage 2 project which is designed to move traffic away from the city centre and residential areas surrounding Kamo Road.

Communication with local residents and the community is underway on all the projects and an information evening is planned for September to give residents the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the plans. This will be advertised in local newspapers closer to the time. 

For more information please contact:

Ewart Barnsley
Auckland Media Manager
NZ Transport Agency
T     64 9 368 2000
M    027 213 7616
E     ewart.barnsley@nzta.govt.nz