Why are you making SH33 safer?
Road and roadside safety improvements have been underway since late 2017 as part of the State Highway 33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa safety improvements project. This road has been identified as high-risk rural road, and these safety improvements are part of the Speed and Infrastructure Programme.
How are you making SH33 safer?
To make this stretch of road safer we’re putting in a wide centreline from the SH33/30 Te Ngae intersection to Paengaroa, flexible roadside safety barriers at high-risk locations, widening and sealing the road shoulder and adding new signs, line marking, rumble strips, and a new passing lane.
Why did you review speed along SH33, at Ōkere Falls and Mourea?
From late 2016, prior to construction starting on the SH33 safety improvements, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency sought feedback from iwi, stakeholders and the community about this road. During this engagement concerns were raised about traffic going too fast through Ōkere Falls, Mourea and Paengaroa and it’s unsafe to cross the road at Ōkere Falls.
What was the earlier feedback received from late 2016?
Feedback was captured via a number of different ways, from various groups.
We received feedback from our iwi/hapū partners via regular hui. Concerns were raised regarding speed through the villages of Mourea and Ōkere Falls.
The local community (Ōkere Falls Store, rafting operators, local property owners, Whangamarino School community, community boards and ratepayer associations) concerns are summarised as follows:
- Traffic is going too fast through Ōkere Falls, Mourea and Paengaroa.
- It’s unsafe to cross the road at Ōkere Falls.
- Ōkere Falls gets busy over the summer – both traffic increases and tourism/rafting activity.
- Some drivers aren’t following the speed limit.
- Requests to lower the speed limits, especially through the villages along the road.
When did the speed limit get lowered?
In 2020 we lowered speed limits along SH33, this included reducing the speed limit to 60km/h through Ōkere Falls and Mourea, and introduced an electronic speed sign to advise drivers of their speed as they were entering Ōkere Falls.
Why was a shared path considered at Ōkere Falls?
Part of the SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa safety improvements project was to investigate options to make it safer for people to walk and bike between Hamurana Road and Ōkere Falls. After hearing concerns from locals about it being unsafe to cross the road at Ōkere Falls, Waka Kotahi investigated options and proposed a shared path and pedestrian refuge islands to improve safety while working within the constraints of a rural state highway environment.
What are the benefits of the shared path?
The benefits for the shared path and pedestrian refuge islands between Mourea Bridge to Ōkere Falls include:
- Improved safety for residents, school children and families walking/biking alongside SH33.
- Pedestrians and cyclists are separated from state highway traffic.
- Better connectivity between Mourea and Ōkere Falls.
- Pedestrian refuge islands provide a safe place in the middle of the road to wait before crossing the road.
- The shared path and pedestrian islands provide visual reminders of other potential road users in the area.
Why does the shared path cross the road?
We faced a number of challenges when designing the shared path in this area. These include limited space to work within (restricted land area and lakeside location), geometry of the road (sweeping corners at either end) and vehicle movements.
Is there room for the shared path?
The shared path will be constructed within designated road space and will not encroach or narrow the existing state highway. There is room for the shared path.
The layout of the shared path will use some of the existing road shoulder between Hamurana Road and the Waipuna Bay boat ramp. By reducing some of the current shoulder widths will help reinforce the new lower 60km/h speed limit in this area.
How do pedestrian refuge islands make it safer to cross the road?
A pedestrian refuge island provides a crossing point, with kerb-like buildouts, to improve safety in the following ways:
- Reduces crossing distance and therefore crossing time.
- Pedestrians are more visible to oncoming drivers, and pedestrians can view oncoming traffic better.
- Creates space for pedestrians to wait without blocking others walking past.
- Physically prevents drivers from parking and blocking the crossing point.
- Can help slow vehicle speeds by narrowing the road.
Why doesn’t the shared path extend from Ōkere Falls to Maniatutu Road?
The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Walking and Cycling Team have submitted a request for funding for the next National Land Transport Programme (2021-24 NLTP) for the construction of a path from Maniatutu Road into the Ōkere Falls. This will be prioritised along with all other projects around Aotearoa and we will receive confirmation of the status either late-2021 or early-2022.
Why aren’t you building an underpass?
There are a number of important safety projects around the country, and we need to prioritise the timing and funding available for these so we can make the biggest difference in reducing deaths and serious injuries.
The cost of an underpass at this location is beyond the scope of this project. There is currently no funding available to investigate or construct an underpass and an underpass at this location is unlikely to be prioritised high enough to be funded.
An at-grade (road level) option, with a median pedestrian refuge island is much safer and more attractive to people than what is currently available. People would likely still cross the road as it is more direct as opposed to using an underpass at this location, and now the speed limit has been lowered to 60km/h it is much safer.
Waka Kotahi is not ruling out the possibility of an underpass for Ōkere Falls in the future, if it was technically feasible. We remain committed to improving safety through this area into the future.
