The NZTA is urging motorists to take exercise caution when driving over the SH2 Rimutaka Hill this winter.
The NZ Transport Agency Wellington Operations Manager Mark Owen says that with forecasts of more adverse weather expected in the next few days, it's timely to remind drivers to take extra care this winter while work continues on the Muldoon's Corner safety improvements.
"The onset of winter always brings challenges to people travelling on SH2 Rimutaka Hill Road, where poor weather conditions can affect visibility and make the road surface slippery, and we urge motorists to put safety first and drive to the conditions."
"We ask that drivers remain vigilante and stop and call 0800 100 082 if cones have shifted and lanes are not clear.
"To aid drivers we have installed flexible plastic posts along 200m of the road centre line. We can't put them all through the project because we can't bolt them through the temporary road surface which is why we are also using traffic cones," he says.
These are similar to posts that have been installed on some sections of SH1 near Peka Peka and also, more recently, along SH1 Calabar Road close to Wellington Airport. As well as clearly marking the centreline, they also stop motorists from driving on the centreline and scuffing up the temporary surface"
When the road is finished, reflective paint will be used for the permanent line-markings, together with reflective ‘cats-eyes’.
Mr Owen adds that the NZTA are doing a trial of some new edge marker posts (ie the white/red ones on the side of the road) with a view to using them on the rest of the project. They’re a new product and the NZTA are interested in seeing how they perform in high winds, as they are hinged and even more flexible than the flexible posts on the centre line.
For more information contact
Anthony Frith
Media Manager - Central
NZ Transport Agency.
T +644894 5251
M +64272137617
E anthony.frith@nzta.govt.nz
