The Coromandel Loop safety projects

With its beautiful scenery and winding roads the Coromandel Loop is a favourite for Kiwi riders. It’s also a challenging ride, which means the things that make it enjoyable can also make it risky. That’s why it was identified in 2014 as one of 50 high-risk motorcycling routes to focus on improving.

The Coromandel Loop is made up of two loops:

Northern Loop – state highways 25/25A (187.8km)
Southern Loop – state highways 25/25A/2/26 (129.7km)
Coromandel Loop map [PDF, 1.2 MB]

To remove or reduce the risks for people on motorcycles, two separate projects commenced in 2014 (on the Southern Loop) and 2017 (on the Northern Loop) with input from the following organisations:

How we've made the Loop safer

Safety improvements made included:

Installing underrun safety barriers – to better protect riders if they leave the road, including by ensuring they avoid hitting the posts on existing guardrails.
Better signs and line markings – especially before sharp corners.
Hazard removal and reduction – such as adding guardrails on bridges and making drainage features safer.
Sealing rural property entrances – to prevent loose gravel from straying into the path of riders on the road.
Improving visibility – including by removing a bank.
Rescue helicopter landing sites – for getting injured motorcyclists to medical attention sooner.