SH30 Awakeri to Whakatāne network improvements

2024 update

Background

• Proposals for improving the corridor

  We looked at the types and causes of crashes on SH30 and identified potential improvements.

  This is what we proposed for further investigation and discussion with stakeholders and the community:

  • Flexible median safety barriers to prevent head-on crashes - they are designed to flex when hit, slowing your vehicle and absorbing the impact of the crash.
  • Providing wide road shoulders at regular intervals to allow slow vehicles to pull over, so emergency vehicles can pass easily.
  • Making some side roads and accessways left in and left out only, so people don’t have to cross the busy highway.
  • Upgrading key intersections with roundabouts, to make it safer and more efficient for people to turn on and off the state highway and provide a turnaround function to support the median barrier. Along this stretch, we are proposing three roundabouts.

  A roundabout at the intersection of SH30 and Mill Road was included, following feedback from stakeholders and road users.

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• What's happening

  NZTA had funding from the 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme to progress site investigations and carry out engagement as part of the detailed design process.

  Detailed design is where we look at how the road is used and carry out technical investigations like geotechnical site investigations and topographical surveys. As part of this, and to make sure we get the designs right, we also sought  feedback on what we’re considering from people who use the road (see below).

  Construction funding needed to be sought as part of the 2024 - 2027 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) process. The NLTP sets out the activities that can receive funding from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) and other funding sources, and gives effect to the Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS). 

  The 2024-27 NLTP, released in September, prioritises NZTA investment in road safety by encouraging safer driving behaviour, promoting safer vehicles and building safer infrastructure, so people can travel safely and efficiently.

  Our focus is on delivering safe roading infrastructure via the Roads of National Significance and Roads of Regional Significance, providing enhanced maintenance and highway resilience as well as increased support for NZ Police enforcement. Some funding is available for safety improvements at the highest-risk locations.

  This means several state highway safety improvements projects at various stages in planning have been reprioritised to meet investment objectives and available funding.

  The outcome of this is that the safety improvement project on State Highway 30 between Awakeri and Whakatāne has been reprioritised and will no longer progress through to construction. Any design and planning work already completed will be kept in case of future reassessment.

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• Project map

  

  View larger map [PDF, 385 KB]

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• Project timeline

  Key milestones	Timing
  Feasibility study	Completed early 2022
  Detailed design funding application and approval	Completed June 2022
  Ngāti Awa, council, landowner and community consultation on the proposed safety improvements.	August 2022 to mid 2023
  Public information sessions	Early 2023
  Speed review outcome	Mid 2023
  Completed detailed design. Apply for construction funding from National Land Transport Programme 2024-2027	2024
  Construction funding outcomes known	Late 2024

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Community feedback

• Community and stakeholder responses

  From September 2022 to mid 2023  we focussed on getting feedback from iwi and hapū representatives, Whakatāne District Council staff, landowners, businesses, emergency services and other key stakeholders.

  In early 2023 we engaged with the wider community, to seek feedback before we finish the detailed design process.

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• Public information sessions

  We held four public information sessions in late March 2023, to hear from other people in the community – those who regularly use the highway, who live nearby, or have interests in the area – to understand how the road is currently used.

  We wanted to hear what you thought and if there were any changes we could consider as part of the detailed design process.

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• What we heard

  This road is important to the local and rural community. Key themes emerging during our many conversations included:

  Diverse use

  • The road is used frequently by farmers and contractors on agricultural vehicles, moving stock across the road between blocks of property. Other road users want to be able to pass these vehicles or activities safely.
  • Emergency service vehicles should be able to pass other vehicles with no delay.
  • Other users include school buses, delivery vehicles, residents, longer distance travellers, commuters, retirees, parents taking school children to/from school or bus stops, and other service providers and delivery vehicles etc.
  • People on bikes want to be able to safely use and cross the road.

  Intersections

  • The SH30/Mill Road intersection is used by a range of vehicle types including many heavy vehicles. It’s considered the most dangerous intersection by both users and those driving past. There was considerable support for the roundabout design once it was introduced.
  • People consider Thornton Road intersection as dangerous and a roundabout would be welcomed.
  • The Shaw Road intersection is also considered dangerous by many who also say the speed limit is too fast and this will worsen as future growth occurs.
  • Other intersections – people were concerned about roads identified as left in, left out (ie Angle, Luxton, Paroa, Huna roads), increased travel on local roads, access for cyclists and longer distances/time to travel.

  Flexible median barriers

  • The feedback on the flexible median barrier was mostly unsupportive. There was a desire to consider wider corridor with wide centre lines and lower speed limits first before installing median barriers.

  Speed

  • Most comments about speed were supportive of lower speed limits – 80km/h.
  • The priority for lower speed limits were from Whakatāne through to Kope Drain first, particularly past Mill and Shaw roads, and to extend lower speed limits past Awakeri School.

  Coordination/phasing

  • There was support for wider centre lines to be put in place, increased maintenance on the road, roundabouts in place and lower speed limits to be trialled before going ahead with flexible median barriers.

  General

  • Support for investigating if the Kope Bridge can be widened.
  • People were keen for more gaps, passing lanes and pullover areas.

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What about speed?