The NZ Transport Agency starts work this week to stop motorists overtaking dangerously on SH58 nearest the Hutt Valley and endangering the lives of local residents and visitors.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) starts work this week to stop motorists overtaking dangerously on SH58 nearest the Hutt Valley and endangering the lives of local residents and visitors.
Wellington Regional Director, Deborah Hume, says there is a need to address the unsafe manoeuvres some motorists make by using a right-hand turning bay into Hugh Duncan Street as an extension of the passing lane only a few hundred metres away.
“Overtaking in a right-hand turning bay is both dangerous and illegal. It’s a matter the local Police have identified as one of the most dangerous activities on the state highway and one which we don’t want to see continue,” Dr Hume says.
The problem will be fixed by extending the passing lane to start before the existing right-hand turning bay to Hugh Duncan Street.
“We need to do this to ensure the lives of local residents and visitors are no longer put at risk,” she says.
The work will also address safety and access needs for residents that live adjacent to SH58, in particular those on Kaitawa Road, by separating turning and through traffic.
“We need to allow the residents and visitors to Kaitawa and Hugh Duncan Streets room to safely turn to and from the highway. For Kaitawa Road we will extend the painted median strip which will provide a safe area for traffic to queue while waiting to turn right,” Dr Hume says.
This resolves the current situation where people currently wait in the right-hand lane of the passing lane, which is too risky.
Further work being done as part of the project includes widening the road shoulder and laying piping for traffic management systems.
The NZTA’s contractor for this work is expected to be on site, depending on weather, from Wednesday, 20 May until mid-September this year.
Work is taking place during the day, mainly at the side of the road and, when required in the middle of the road, but outside peak traffic time to minimise the inconvenience to road users.
Dr Hume says the Agency is asking for people’s understanding and patience while this safety work is carried out because when completed it will benefit the local community and general road users.
For more information please contact:
Andree Kai Fong
Communications advisor
T 64 4 894 5211
M 027 672 5881
F 04 4 894 3305
andree.kaifong@nzta.govt.nz
