A total of $73.9 million will be invested into the most dangerous roads in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

The investment is part of the $600m Safer Roads and Roadsides Programme which will see safety improvements made on more than 90 high-risk sites on rural State Highways in 14 regions.

Today Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced $73.9 million will be invested into improving high-risk roads in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Photo: Simon Bridges/Facebook

Some of the targeted sites are high risk roads where five or more fatalities have occurred in the past five years.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the investment, which was announced today, is part of the Government's commitment to reducing New Zealand's road roll.

'Up to $100 million will be invested annually in the programme over six years – $60 million more than is usually invested in road safety improvements.

'It's forecast that the nationwide programme of roading improvements will result in 900 fewer deaths and serious injuries on our roads over the next ten years.”

The safety upgrades will target causes of crashes by including a mix of road improvements, realignment of corners in some areas to improve visibility, side barriers, median barriers, rumble strips, wide centrelines, road marking and improved signage.

Eight out of ten fatal and serious crashes on state highways occur on rural roads and 85 to 90 per cent of those crashes are head on or where the driver runs off the road, says Simon.

'The road improvements will make roads more forgiving of human error, helping to reduce the occurrence of crashes in the first place and limiting the severity when they do.”

The $600 million program is a significant step up in road safety investment by the Government and reinforces their commitment to reducing death and serious injury crashes on New Zealand roads, adds Simon.

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is welcoming the Government's announcement to improve SH29, describing it as 'fantastic news for the Bay”.

He says investment into upgrading the safety of SH29 from Tauriko to the top of the Kaimai will significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries.

'I have been working alongside local Western Bay of Plenty District Council councillor Margaret Murray-Benge to advocate for investment on this road,” says Todd.

'Project investigation on the specific safety solutions for SH29 is due to start later this year and I will work with councillor Murray-Benge to ensure our local Kaimai community are consulted on the options.

'We have had announced significant investment in our local roads with the confirmation of the Tauranga Northern Link last month, so this safety investment is further commitment to ensuring we have infrastructure this region needed.”

BAY OF PLENTY ROAD SAFETY PROJECTS:

• SH2: Paeroa to Waihi. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH2: Athenree to Katikati. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH2: Corridor improvements. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH29: Tauriko to Waikato Boundary. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH29: BOP boundary to SH24. Project investigation will start in 2015/16.

WAIKATO ROAD SAFETY PROJECTS:

• SH37: SH3 to Waitomo. Work is underway at a cost of $1.5 million.
• SH3: Ohaupo to Te Awamutu. Work is due to start late 2016 at a cost of $3.1 million.
• SH1B: Taupiri to Gordonton. Work due to start in August 2016 at a cost of $4 million.
• SH30: Te Teko to Awakeri. Work due to start in August 2016 at a cost of $3.6 million.
• SH34 - SH30 to Kawerau. Work due to start late 2016 at a cost of $625,000.
• SH3: SH37 to Te Kuiti: Work due to start late 2016 at a cost of $3.3 million.
• SH1: Hampton Downs to SH2 Bombay. Work due to start in August 2016 at a cost of $8.6 million.
• SH33: Te Ngae to Sun Valley. Work possibly starting mid 2017 at a cost of $4.9 million.
• SH33: Sun Valley to Paengaroa. Work possibly starting mid 2017 at a cost of $6 million.
• SH27: SH26 to SH24. Work possibly starting late 2016 at a cost $4 million.
• SH5: Mihi to Wairakei. Work possibly starting mid 2017 at a cost of $500,000.
• SH3: Te Awamutu to Otorohanga. Work possibly starting mid 2017 at a cost of $2 million.
• SH1: Cambridge to Piarere (stage 1). Work due to start early 2017 at a cost of $8 million.
• SH23 Hamilton to Whatawhata (Highbrook). Work possibly starting mid 2018 at a cost of $8.8 million.
• SH23 Waitetuna to Raglan. Work starting early 2017 at a cost of $4.5 million.
• SH2: Wainui Road to Opotiki. Work due to start mid 2017 at a cost of $1.5 million.
• SH30: Owhata to Te Ngae Junction. Work due to start late 2017at a cost of $1.5 million.
• SH5: Tarukenga to Ngongataha. Work due to start late 2017 at a cost of $3 million.
• SH29: SH24 to Piarere. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH29: Pairere to Tirau. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH1: Putaruru to Tokoroa. Project investigation will start in 2015/16.
• SH1: Atiamuri to Wairakei. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH1: Hatepe Hill to Turangi. Project investigation will start in 2016/17.
• SH1: Puketarata to Manawatu Boundary. Project investigation will start in 2015/16.