Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising that from today, Wednesday 20 January, there will be a single traffic lane through the State Highway 6/62 Rapaura Road roundabout site in Blenheim, 24 hours a day.
Stop/go traffic control will remain in place during the day and there will be temporary traffic signals in place overnight. The single traffic lane and temporary traffic signals will allow for construction of the remainder of the new roundabout. Road users should plan for short delays.
To date, motorists will have seen the new lanes at the western extent of the new roundabout being built alongside existing lanes. Traffic will now switch onto this new work, allowing crews to start building the remainder of the roundabout and its connections on Rapaura Road and on the eastern side of SH6.
“We really appreciate everyone’s patience while we complete this work and ask that people drive safely through the worksite and stick to the temporary speed limits. This helps to keep people safe while we build a safer road for everyone” says Regional Transport Systems Manager Andrew James.
Mr James says progress had been very good and construction work was very likely to be completed before the mid-year target.
This project is aligned to New Zealand’s road safety strategy, Road to Zero 2020–2030, and of part of a programme of work delivering safety improvements on our highest risk intersections and roads across New Zealand.
New Zealand’s road safety strategy
Intersections can be dangerous places, with 17 per cent of deaths and serious injuries occurring at rural intersections.
Roundabouts can reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured by up to 65 per cent, because they slow people down and significantly reduce the chance of head-on and side crashes.
Waka Kotahi reminds motorists to plan for delays, allow extra time for their journeys and take extra care when travelling through worksites to ensure the safety of themselves, other road users and road workers.
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