A stretch of State Highway 2, north of Tauranga, is set to get a $1.8 million upgrade that is hoped will increase the chances of people walking away from a crash without serious injury.
A section of highway, between Wainui South Road and Sargent Drive, will be repaired and widened, and a wire rope central median barrier installed to prevent head on crashes.
The NZTA is hopes the upgrade will increase the chance of people walking away from crashes.
The NZ Transport Agency says work starts this month and is expected to wrap up in early May.
The Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty highway manager, Niclas Johansson, says the project is a big job and will be carried out in three stages.
'We're working hard to minimise the impact as much as possible and only minor delays to people's journeys are expected.
'However, there will be significant changes to the road over the next five months including lane closures, speed restrictions and occasional stop/go traffic management so we are asking people to drive with care when travelling through the work site.”
Niclas says the Transport Agency is committed to improving safety for everyone that uses SH2 north of Tauranga.
'Data shows that many of the crashes on this stretch of road have been caused by distracted drivers, with head on crashes and run off road crashes the most common cause of death and serious injury.
'Over the past year, the Transport Agency, on behalf of the Government, invested approximately $5 million into safety improvements designed to prevent these types of crashes on SH2,” says Niclas.
'Installing engineering solutions such as the wire rope barriers and wide centre lines which help to create a more forgiving road can help stop a simple mistake becoming a fatal head on collision.”
Niclas says the Transport Agency expects to be able to announce the long term plans for the road and when further changes will be made in the coming months.
'The route is one of the most complex stretches of state highway in the country and any long term fixes will involve property purchase, and that takes some time.
'We also have to take into account the competing and growing demands on this road, from local people making trips to and from town, agricultural vehicle, local freight vehicles, tourists and other road users.
'It is vital we strike the right balance between safety and efficiency for people's journeys.”
12 comments
Overtaking lanes ??
Posted on 20-01-2016 08:18 | By mutley
No mention of improving opportunities for overtaking slow traffic in this story. So many overtaking places have been removed, and at the same time more agricultural vehicles are allowed to use SH2. Little wonder drivers are distracted, bored and making mistakes.
Good old days
Posted on 20-01-2016 09:02 | By hapukafin
Transport authorities only think that road conditions and speed causes accidents.They have not portioned blame on drivers to do what they are meant to when behind the wheel.Back in the eighties when I became a regular driver on SH2 it was common to say it was a two hour trip to Auckland and there were less accidents,more passing lanes and no so called safer speed limits of 90K.Now its a 3hour trip.Drivers were more matured careful and courteous and we didnt have the young inexperience drivers of today who can afford more powerful cars and dont know how to handle them.This includes cars with more modern saftey features and better suspension.It is time to introduce engine and power limits to new licensed drivers along with compulsory insurance to protect the public.
.
Posted on 20-01-2016 09:38 | By whatsinaname
There is nothing wrong with the rd. If you can't drive safley on that rd May be u shouldn't be driving at all
hapukafin & mutley
Posted on 20-01-2016 12:08 | By maildrop
I too would like a road with no other traffic on it at all, then I could go as fast as I like. If other people not going as fast as you would like frustrate and bore you, maybe you should try flying to Auckland? No traffic issues in the sky. Oh, and there is always somebody who wants to go faster than you. How do you feel about drivers that you bore and frustrate?
passing stupidity
Posted on 20-01-2016 13:15 | By tutae.kuri
Trundling along at 90 still gets you there if a few minutes later. Passing lanes are crazy as the gains are small and you still end up behind the next ram of vehicles. The roads are much less a problem than the drivers and their impatience. Enjoy the view guys and roll with the majority ,safely.
Tutae.kuri
Posted on 20-01-2016 14:47 | By mutley
Trundling along at 90 km/h would be just fine. My comment is about agricultural vehicles that travel as slow as 40 km/h and no one can legally go passed because the road has double yellows everywhere. The responsible agri operators put their tractors and sprayers etc on transporters and they in turn get held up in the queue behind the slow ones. By all means go as slow as you wish but don't hold up the traffic.
maildrop
Posted on 20-01-2016 14:51 | By mutley
you must be some kind of Police spin doctor. Try flying to Morrinsville ? How do you like being in a queue of twenty something cars behind an orchard sprayer doing 40 km/h because that is his max speed - limited by NZTA so he doesn't have to have a Warrant of Fitness on his "road registered" vehicle ?
Narrow Bridges
Posted on 20-01-2016 16:07 | By P Double
There are too many bridges that are only two lanes, particularly a few kilometres north and south of Katikati. Need also to review the turning lanes on some roads - for example Wright Road.
its a good road if you keep your mind on the job
Posted on 20-01-2016 16:52 | By hapukafin
Irrispective to what speed or road condition I have never had any problem with it and always stayed on the black stuff.
maildrop.....
Posted on 20-01-2016 22:42 | By groutby
like many I think the points made by other writers here, messrs. hapukafin and mutley, have been missed..neither are saying they drive slowly ...just with care, attention and courtesy for other people. Now I'm not sure what age group you fit in to, my hunch is a little younger than these two writers, and in an absolute hurry to get everywhere before you start out and possibly, just possibly without regard for fellow humans on the road..am I right? As for the "flying" thing, perhaps different and safer tablets are the answer for you....:/
Here we go again
Posted on 21-01-2016 04:20 | By Kenworthlogger
Looks like Maildrop is at it again. Hapukafin and Mutley are spot on the money and Maildrop has totally missed the point! Too busy trying to change what people are saying instead of realising their point. The police should ticket slow vehicles that are inconsiderate. End of story.
Wrong on all counts
Posted on 21-01-2016 09:45 | By maildrop
Not sure what Groutby is on about. I am neither a slow driver or in a hurry to get everywhere. I drive at the speed limit and this is the point, I don't pick and choose which laws to abide by. Oh, and in 30 odd years of driving I have never hit a thing or caused any accidents or had any infringements whatsoever. Now if everyone drove like me the roads here would be as safe as in developed countries. They're not, and my hunch is that it is down to thickheadedness as shown by people who regularly contribute on this website, who believe they are decide what laws to obey.
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