$5M safety works continue

The New Zealand Transport Agency says they are focused on reducing delays to motorists travelling on State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Waihi while contractors work on a $5million safety improvement programme.

The works will see guard rails installed which prevent ‘run-off-road' crashes, and wide centre lines, which reduce the risk of head on collisions.


Minor delays are expected on SH2. Photo: File.

Contractors are also removing hazards such as trees to make it easier for people to see oncoming cars at intersections.

The Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty journey manager, Nigel D'Ath, says stop/go traffic management, speed restrictions and lane closures will be in place on various sites along the route during the works.

'Traffic will be closely monitored to keep any delays to a minimum,” says Nigel, 'however, people should plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling between Tauranga and Waihi while these works are carried out.”

The safety improvements are part of the Transport Agency's SH2 Safe System Northern Corridor project, which is focused on exploring ways to improve safety on the highway between Bethlehem and Waihi.

The project aims to reduce the number of crashes on the stretch by creating a more forgiving road environment.

Traffic management will be in place at other road work sites around the region this week as work on the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) and ongoing maintenance continues.

Sites where delays of up to 10 minutes are possible are detailed below to help people plan ahead when travelling around the Bay of Plenty.

SH2 between Katikati and Waihi, Bridgman Lane:

Speed restriction of 50km/h during the day and 70km/h at night are in place on a stretch of road near Bridgman Lane as contractors repair a road slip. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when travelling on this route.

SH29 between Tauranga and the Kaimai summit, Soldiers Road rehabilitation:

A 30km/h speed restriction and some stop/go traffic management will be in place on Saturday May 30 to allow contractors to work on a stretch of SH29.

The work will be carried out from 6am until 12 noon and motorists should allow extra time when travelling through the site.

The Tauranga-bound passing lane is closed to allow contractors to carry out the work safely. The work is weather dependent and may be postponed if necessary.

The Transport Agency apologises for any inconvenience and thanks motorists for their patience.

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3 comments

Safety Conundrum

Posted on 29-05-2015 10:08 | By M@M

If its logical to remove visual obstructions from the highway to improve visibility of vehicles on the road, you have to ask why the traffic islands in Bethlehem are built up to obstruct vision of oncoming vehicles. When I questioned why the islands were built up with vegetation, I was told it was to block headlight glare at night? I think thats a stupid reason otherwise you would have barriers down the centre of every road. What we have is obstruction to viewing oncoming divers signals until the last second of them rounding the island. Just stupid


drivers

Posted on 29-05-2015 22:48 | By joe p

are the problem, NOT the roads, I think every driver should be made to take a defensive driving course & then sit the license test, too many drivers don't know the road code, don't know how to use a painted median, don't know how to indicate at round-a-bouts, can't read speed signs, many just flout the law & drive like they own the road, it's time the penalties for breaking the rules were made to hurt the pockets of offenders, oh, & also, radar detectors should be banned, too many drivers who speed have detectors in their cars thats why they don't get caught, they just continue to flout the law, passing at well over 120km/hr just to be in front, time to get real !!!!


maybe but

Posted on 30-05-2015 00:23 | By Wonkytonk

most places in Europe grow the vegetation to reduce speeds on the approaches...just a thought, they work fine to me. I often go through here and never seen a crash?


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