The NZ Transport Agency, Horowhenua District Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council are working together to improve safety and reduce serious crashes on State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Foxton.
With four fatalities on this stretch of road over a two week period last month, the NZ Transport Agency, Horowhenua District Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council met this week to discuss ways to improve safety on the road immediately and in the long term.
“To make New Zealand’s roads safer we need to improve every part of the system – that means safer roads, safer vehicles, safer speeds and safer drivers,” the Transport Agency’s Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight says.
“That’s why the Transport Agency has already committed to the Ōtaki to north of Levin project, which will improve safety between Ōtaki and Levin. We expect to be able to announce the details of the project soon.
“We also have a programme of safety initiatives that we expect to begin next year and in the meantime, we will implement a number of safety measures on State Highway 1 within the next three weeks including flexible posts on flush medians, temporary electronic safety message signs, and radio advertising targeting traffic over the busy holiday period.”
Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen says he is pleased that the NZ Transport Agency has agreed to make immediate safety improvements as we head into the busy summer season.
"While we wait for the programme of safety works I appeal to all motorists to slow down as they travel through our district – we all need to make it home for Christmas."
Kāpiti Coast District Mayor K Gurunathan also welcomed the NZ Transport Agency’s moves to improve safety on the stretch of State Highway 1 north of Ōtaki.
“This is an important stretch of highway for our community with people regularly traveling north from Ōtaki to access healthcare and a lot of their services.
“I’m pleased the Transport Agency has listened and is now taking practical steps to reduce harm while we wait for the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway project to progress.”
For more information on the Ōtaki to north of Levin project, visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl
