A car crashing into a wire median barrier on State Highway 2 in the Western Bay has reignited demands by residents for removal of the obstacles.
Wright Rd residents have protested and petitioned against the barriers installed as part of a project by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
A spokesperson for Wright Rd residents, Fin McDonald, said they have long said the current installation was dangerous and want it changed.
A press release based on the recent accident and a 268-page “feasibility study” provided to SunLive by McDonald, claimed the “startling vehicle incident… once again casts a spotlight on a controversial barrier layout implemented by NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi, prompting renewed calls from residents and business owners for an urgent design review”.
McDonald said there was a 55m gap between the bridge and the start of the median barrier, with the carriageway width at the minimum requirement of 3.4m.
“This constrained space leaves little room for error in wet or low‑visibility conditions, contributing to the vehicle mounting the barrier and ending up precariously elevated.”
Residents and businesses have raised concerns since NZTA’s installation of wire rope barriers between Waihī and Ōmokoroa started in 2021.
The barriers prevent right turns on and off the highway to Wright Rd. Photo / David Hall
“These barriers blocked safe right turns into Wright Rd, with some drivers making dangerous, hazardous U‑turns and occasional wrong‑side driving manoeuvres,” said McDonald.
NZTA spokesperson said SH2 between Waihī and Tauranga became known as the “Horror Highway” around 2016.
“There was significant public outcry to fix the road, including action groups, petitions and roadside protests, which garnered national media attention.”
A programme business case was developed and endorsed by the NZTA board. This included an assessment against the then Government Policy Statement on land transport.
After this, the then Transport Minister announced a package to improve SH2 safety between Tauranga and Waihī with a budget of $520 million for the “key Tauranga route”.
“Safety improvements have been progressively carried out along this stretch of state highway with a median barrier installed on the section of SH2 between Morton Rd and Matahui Rd roundabouts in July 2024.”
Installation started progressively from mid-July.
“Since September 2024 until today, there have been nine recorded incidents by NZTA of left, right and central median barrier damage at differing sites between Dawson Rd and Wright Rd – incidents which could have resulted in serious injury to road users.”
NZTA said there are many reasons why the car may have struck the barrier.
“Drivers are reminded to adjust their speed and driving behaviour to match the current road, weather and traffic situations.”
Police were alerted to a crash on State Highway 2 at Katikati after a driver lost control and crashed into wire barriers about 7.50pm on July 29 this year. Photo / Supplied
Crash incident
A police spokesman said police were alerted to a crash on SH2 at Katikati at 7.50pm on July 29.
He said the report shows the driver had lost control and crashed into the wire barriers.
“The driver was warned for careless driving and was issued with an infringement notice for failing to drive within the lane.”
There were no injuries reported.
The spokesman said motorists should drive to the conditions, and in wet weather that may mean slowing down so you have time to react to what’s in front of you.
“The posted speed limit is not a target and it takes a lot longer to stop if you have to put the brakes on when driving on a wet road.”
11 comments
Drive to conditions
Posted on 20-08-2025 07:03 | By rustyvr4
Still can't teach the dumb.
Drive to conditions, and leave the phones alone while driving.
Watch the Road People
Posted on 20-08-2025 08:31 | By Thats Nice
With idiots like this on the road, probably better to have the barriers than a head on.
Common Sense
Posted on 20-08-2025 08:37 | By Snapper435
If people think roads are dangerous think again. The roads don’t cause accidents the drivers themselves do! Drive to the conditions stay off devices don’t be so dam impatient and watch your speed! If you take every vehicle off the road are the accidents NO because the roads are very safe it’s the dumber getting dumber
They work...
Posted on 20-08-2025 08:41 | By fair game
Thank goodness that barrier was there, otherwise it would have been a head on fatal as seen in previous years.
Doing its job
Posted on 20-08-2025 08:52 | By AJSommerville
Doesn't this show the barriers are doing the job, otherwise this car would have crossed the centre than and potentially hit an oncoming car, protected the occupants of that car and other innocent drivers.
We are all created equal but some us....
Posted on 20-08-2025 09:46 | By Ziggaty
The NZTA's regulation for barrier distances to bridges does not comply here. Their regulation states that these centre barriers start at 150-250 meters. There must be a safety reason for this. To have the stop sticks start at 47 meters from the bridge abutment with NO directional arrows surely does not meet any road safety standards.
As I understand it, the people of Wright Road, who deal with this daily, are not opposed to centre barriers but are opposed to being prejudiced against having a right-hand turn, which all other joining roads have on State Highway 2. As I see it, this chicane, which the NZTA states as a reason, could easily be resolved by making the northbound lane wider with no purchase of land. To me, it seems this is more about the NZTA not wanting to create precedents than it is road safety.
Comments ha
Posted on 20-08-2025 09:57 | By Bevin
If you don't live with this rubbish and need a barrier to keep you safe then stay at home . Not sure who deemed our road to be horror highway but they must be bad drivers .I have lived and traveled this road for 30years and I don't think it is any better with all the ropes and roundabouts .I did get better for Wright Rd when we had a safe turn lane added but now with the rope and roundabouts you are more likely to have a accident doing a turn at the roundabouts, the rope don't save you there !
Barriers are a joke.
Posted on 20-08-2025 11:49 | By GreenRidgeFarm
To narrow, poorly thought out, wider road with rubble strip is vastly more effective.
People saying they’re saving lives all probably NZTA or HEB workers.
There has been more accidents and dangerous driving since the barriers have gone in than in the last 13 yrs, so how can it be a safer solution.
They do work
Posted on 20-08-2025 16:14 | By Peaches
I live on the hill above bottom of Waihi Road and can see the accidents that happen on the highway where the barrier ropes are, and they have been run into hundreds of times since being installed and NOT one death.
Rubble strips don't work as they are just fun for the idiots on the roads.
Put the phone away, watch what you are doing, don't drink and drive or with drugs and drive to the conditions, to many idiots speeding on the roads not paying attention behind the wheel.
Lunacy
Posted on 20-08-2025 17:54 | By Duegatti
I'm not aware of any OECD country that permits wire barriers on the centreline of 2 lane higher speed roads.
It makes them ineffective for heavier vehicles such as EV's and even more lethal to motorcyclists and cyclists.
This madness has to stop. The Govt has to restructure NZTA as a matter of urgency with roading and infrastructure in the hands of a separate, expert organisation.
Bad drivers and poor conditioned roads
Posted on 22-08-2025 15:08 | By StuffNZTA
I live on state highway 2 about an hour from this location and have so far had 3 trucks nearly go thru our house and near misses with cars its mainly bad drivers but its also the road itself lack of maintance and care from NZTA have been fighting for nearly 6years to have something done but they refuse there all a bunch of muppets look at who they hire over paid and under educated will now be putting 3 tonne concrete blocks outside our house till they sort it but doubt that will happen
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