Median barrier installation about to begin on State Highway 60 Ruby Bay Bypass

Construction will begin next week on new safety barriers that will make the Ruby Bay Bypass on State Highway 60 in Tasman a much safer route for drivers.

From 8 February to 27 June, contractors will install new side and median barriers along the Ruby Bay Bypass between the Dominion Road and Harley Road intersections. They will also carry out road widening and drainage work.

The site is just over a seven-kilometre stretch of State Highway 60, and work will be carried out in two one-kilometre sections at a time.

While the work is underway, the highway will remain open in both directions, but drivers can expect to see a temporary speed limit of 30 km/h and contraflow at work sites.

Contraflow occurs when vehicles use lanes normally used by traffic travelling in the opposite direction. 

The traffic management will be in place 24/7, with contractors working mostly between 6am and 6pm. Short travel delays of around five minutes are expected. Drivers should factor this into their travel plans. 

The immediate focus in the first two months of work is on road widening, and drainage works at the Tasman View Road intersection and State Highway 60 east of Harley Road. 

NZTA/Waka Kotahi appreciates the work will create some delays and disruption for drivers. We appreciate their understanding and cooperation while this project is underway. Further updates will be provided as the project progresses, and information will also be available on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website.

Highway Conditions – Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough(external link)

Intersection closure planned

• One closure is planned as part of this project. It will be for the installation of a right-turn bay at the State Highway 60 and Tasman View Road intersection. The SH60 and Tasman View Road intersection will be closed from Thursday, 8 February, to Friday, 10 May. 
• Once complete, all traffic will be able to turn both left and right when entering and exiting Tasman View Road via a break in the median barrier at this new right-turn bay
• Details on the closure area and alternate access to Tasman View Road can be seen on the map below.

View/download larger map [PNG, 289 KB]

Barrier locations and Map

• The median barrier will be built on State Highway 60 between the Dominion Road and the Harley Road intersections.
• There will be breaks within the median barrier at Gardner Valley Road, Tasman View Road, and Stagecoach Road intersections. These three intersections will continue to operate how they currently do. A right-turn bay will be installed on Tasman View Road.

View/download larger map [PNG, 300 KB]

More information

• Research shows median barriers virtually eliminate head-on crashes and reduce deaths and serious injuries from run-off-road crashes by around 40-50 percent.
• Head-on crashes are the leading cause of death on state highways and account for approximately half of all deaths recorded. Safety barriers offer a second chance. They help reduce the chance of a simple mistake costing lives and destroying families.

Useful links

• Safety infrastructure - road-safety-barriers(external link)
• Median Barriers: Dividing Fact from Fiction(external link)
• Flexible median barrier stops a head-on crash(external link) (YouTube Video)