The NZ Transport Agency says changes have been made to safety improvements planned for State Highway 3 (SH3), between Ohaupo to Te Awamutu, following suggestions made by the public.
People are invited to discuss the plans for stage one of the project at the Windy Ridge Ohaupo on Thursday, 18 August between 3 and 7pm.
The project team will be on hand to discuss the alterations and answer any questions people may have.
The Transport Agency’s Road Safety Programme Director Kaye Clark says talking to the community has helped the project team develop solutions that will improve safety and meet the needs of local residents and road users.
“Along with installing sections of side barrier which prevent run off road crashes we are also going to improve intersections and provide more pull over areas for vehicles,” Mrs Clark says.
“These refinements are a result of suggestions provided by the public during open days held earlier this year.”
The open days also gave the Transport Agency an opportunity to explain how the different types of safety improvements work and what difference they will make along SH3.
The stretch of highway is a busy commuter route with 11,000 vehicles travelling it each day.
In the last 10 years six people died on the road and 16 have been seriously injured as a result of head on or run off road crashes.
Mrs Clark says installing wire rope barriers, widened centre lines and improved road markings will reduce the risk of these types of crashes.
“Our focus is to make sure that these barriers do not become barriers to the way we use the road now but are able to be the life saver and safety net they are designed to be,” she says.
The project is part of a $600 million nationwide road safety programme to help bring down the country’s road toll.
The Government’s Safer Roads and Roadsides Programme will see safety improvements made to more than 90 high-risk sites on rural State Highways in 14 regions.
The safety upgrades will target causes of crashes by including a mix of road improvements, realignment of corners in some areas to improve visibility, side barriers, median barriers, rumble strips, wide centrelines, road marking and improved signage.
The work will be carried out by the Safe Roads Alliance on behalf of the Government.
The Alliance is made up of Transport Agency staff and infrastructure consultancies Bloxam Burnett and Olliver (BBO) Beca and Northern Civil consulting.
More information can be found at www.nzta.govt.nz/saferoadsalliance(external link)
