Frequently asked questions

Property and services

How much land would you need to purchase?

We are planning our improvements so that, where possible, we avoid the need to buy land.

If any land requirements were required after completing the detailed design we would be back in touch with the potentially affected landowner.

What happens if we have utility services located in the area of road works?

You don’t need to worry about utilities like water pipes and power cables that the council or power company has put in within the road boundaries. We will work with the utility providers to agree on arrangements.

If you have a utility that you’ve had put in yourself, then we might need to talk to you. If this is the case, and you haven't spoken to one of the team, please get in touch by emailing: bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz

Barriers and roundabouts

Why are you considering installing median barriers?

Flexible road safety barriers put something between you and an oncoming car, truck or motorcycle. This means that if someone loses control or drifts across the centreline, the result isn’t a head-on crash.

Almost half of the deaths or serious injuries on this section of SH30 are from head-on crashes.

Flexible road safety barriers

How do median barriers work?

When flexible safety barriers are fitted along the centre of the road, they can reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes by 65 percent. If you hit a flexible barrier, the steel cables flex, slowing down your vehicle and keeping it upright. They absorb the impact so you and the people with you, don’t.

Does having a flexible median barrier mean I have to travel further to turn around?

Yes, this is likely for some people. When flexible median safety barriers are installed, it does mean those entering the highway from a private access or side road will only be able to turn left, and they will have to use a safe turnaround area such as a roundabout to go in the opposite direction.

On SH30 we’re proposing three roundabouts at high use intersections, so while people who have to turn left out of their driveway will have to travel a little further, it won’t be a long distance.

What are the distances between the proposed roundabouts?

SH2/SH30 roundabout to Te Rahu Road roundabout – 3.53km
Te Rahu Road roundabout to Thornton Road roundabout – 3.15km
Thornton Road roundabout to Phoenix Drive roundabout – 2.6km

What about a roundabout at SH30 / Mill Road intersection?

We understand the community is concerned about the SH30 and Mill Road intersection. It’s a theme that came through strongly in our discussions with landowners, businesses and stakeholders.

As part of the detailed design process, we will continue talking with commercial and industrial businesses and people that use this intersection as well cycling groups, heavy haulage, emergency services and the wider public.

We are also having conversations with Whakatāne District Council to understand any options at this intersection in the short-term - interim treatment - and in the long-term - accounting for expected future growth.

All information gathered through this process will help inform our final design, and this includes conversations about the future development of the area around Mill Road.

Why does the Te Rahu Road roundabout not include Luxton Road?

The purpose of the roundabout at Te Rahu Road is to provide a safe turn-around to support the effectiveness of the median barrier installation.

During our initial feasibility work, we investigated the option of providing a four-leg roundabout. This would have required realignment of Luxton Road or Te Rahu Road and private land purchase. There is insufficient existing road reserve to accommodate a four-leg roundabout and realignment of one of those roads. Under the current proposed design Luxton Road will be left in and left out only.

Barriers and the farming community

Do road safety barriers prevent large agricultural vehicles from pulling over?

We understand that SH30 sits within a rural farming community and is an important road for agricultural vehicles and road users are often travelling behind large vehicles such as, combine harvesters, tractors etc.

We have had conversations with farmers, landowners and businesses who operate machinery along this stretch of SH30 to understand the types and dimensions of their vehicles and how often they are using the road.

These details will be considered as part of the final design.

At intervals along the road there will be wider road shoulders which give space for slow moving vehicles and machinery to pull over. When they need to turn right, they will be able to use one of the three roundabouts proposed as part of the project.

I currently move stock across SH30, what will happen once a median barrier is constructed?

As part of the detailed design process, conversations with landowners along SH30 helped us gain an understanding about how they use the road, including those who move stock across the road.

This information will be considered as part of the design to ensure a consistent approach along the road.

If you move stock across SH30 and haven't spoken to one of the team, please get in touch by emailing: bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz

Barriers and emergency services

How will emergency services get to people if there is a crash?

There will be no changes to emergency procedures if median barriers are installed. If there is a crash blocking a lane, and vehicles are trapped in the lane between the flexible median safety barriers and the crash site, the barrier can be released and dropped, in 60m sections.

There will also be wider road shoulders at intervals along the road which provide space for slow moving vehicles to safely pull over. When they need to turn right, they can do so by using one of the three roundabouts proposed as part of the project.

Emergency services would expect motorists to adopt common courtesy, ensuring they slow down and move their vehicle as far to the side of the road as safely possible. In the event of a crash, flexible safety barriers can also be pulled out of the road quickly and easily to allow access for emergency service vehicles and clean-up operations.

Barriers and cyclists

What cycling provisions have been considered as part of this project?

Everyone should get where they’re going safely whether they’re walking, cycling, driving, motorcycling or using public transport. The focus of this project is to improve the safety of the state highway now.

The designs that are being proposed don’t preclude possible cycling improvements in the future.

Barriers and motorcyclists

What happens if a motorcyclist hits the barriers?

People on motorcycles have a higher risk of getting seriously hurt or even killed on our roads. They are more exposed, and our roads and roadsides can be unforgiving.

Barriers, especially flexible safety barriers, can reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads by 50 percent. Barriers between lanes stop a driver’s mistake from becoming a rider’s nightmare. They can also stop riders ending up in the path of oncoming traffic if they come off their bike.

Some motorcyclists have been opposed to flexible road safety barriers because they think the steel ropes are not safe when hit by a rider. However, studies have shown this is not correct. Motorcyclists are more likely to survive an impact with a flexible road safety barrier than an impact with the trees, poles or oncoming vehicles which the barrier will prevent them striking in a crash.

Motorcyclists and safety barriers information

The University of New South Wales has undertaken an in-depth analysis of motorcycle impacts into roadside barriers in both New Zealand and Australia. The data shows that barriers of any kind contributed to a very small percentage of motorcycle fatalities.

A study of the New Zealand motorcycle-barrier crash data from January 2001 to July 2013 shows of 20 motorcycle fatalities sustained as a result of riders hitting a roadside or median barrier, just three involved flexible safety (wire rope) barriers, while 13 involved traditional steel ‘W’ beam barriers and four other barrier types. Over the same time period there were 97 motorcyclist fatalities from collisions with posts or poles, 70 from hitting traffic signs and 93 from crashing into unprotected trees.