Traffic lights will be installed to improve safety at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Whakatiki Street in Upper Hutt.
Following the announcement of the Safer Roads and Roadsides Programme in June this year, the Whakatiki Street intersection was identified as an area for further improvement. As part of a robust investigation several options were explored to help improve safety, and traffic lights were chosen as the best solution.
“We are committed to improving safety at this intersection. In 2013 a lower temporary speed limit of 80km/h was introduced on the southbound lane of State Highway 2, which went some way to reducing the number and the severity of crashes,” Neil Walker, Highway Manager, NZ Transport Agency says.
“Whakatiki Street is a key local road which connects Upper Hutt with the busy State Highway 2. Installing traffic lights and making the current temporary speed limit of 80km/h permanent for the southbound lane will both help lower the risk for road users at this intersection. Traffic lights will make it easier for drivers turning right into and out of Whakatiki Street and will also reduce delays for right turning traffic from Whakatiki Street onto State Highway 2,” Mr Walker says.
“Once the traffic lights are installed we expect that there will be immediate improvement to safety.”
The solution has the support of Upper Hutt City Council and Mayor Wayne Guppy. “We wholeheartedly support any initiative that results in safer roads for our community and visitors. Addressing the Whakatiki Street intersection on State Highway 2 is one part of this, and we will continue to work with the Transport Agency to make our roads safer,” Mr Guppy says.
Installation of the lights is expected to begin early in the New Year and be completed by mid-2017.
