Flowers mark the scene where five coolstore workers were killed in after a collision between a car and logging truck on SH2 at Katikati. Photo/John Borren
The deaths of five Tongans in a crash outside Aongatete Coolstores means road safety along State Highway 2 will be "front and centre" of a community meeting at Katikati tonight, with a strong hint that the speed limit may be lowered.
"It will be standing room only," Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson said following Tuesday night's carnage when a car full of Tongan packhouse workers and a logging truck collided.
The meeting to be attended by the Minister of Transport Simon Bridges and Coromandel MP Scott Simpson was originally called to allow the community to express their frustration at the impact of trucks through Katikati's shopping centre.
Mr Paterson said road safety along the rest of SH2 between Bethlehem and Katikati would be front and centre of the meeting. "The deaths have whacked everyone."
He said Katikati's Tongan community were part and parcel of the town and the council would help with the aftermath of the crash. It could include catering for an official service or function, communications for things like fundraising events and assisting with funeral costs.
Mr Paterson said he would push for the New Zealand Transport Agency to fast-track its programme of safety works along SH2 from its current target of three to five years. "I am saying the focus should be one to two years."
The Mayor signalled that reducing the speed limit to Katikati may have to be looked at as part of urgent safety works. "You are more likely to walk away if speeds were lower than 100km/h".
The problem wasn't just the increasingly busy roads that intersected with SH2 but the side friction from private driveways, he said.
The council was grateful for the $520 million funding announcement that included construction of the Northern Link to Te Puna by 2022 and a further $240 million for safety and capacity improvements over the next 10 years.
The crash was also high on the agenda of a meeting yesterday of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch of the New Zealand Road Transport Forum.
You are more likely to walk away if speeds were lower than 100km/h.
Director Derek Dumbar said it was one of the most dangerous roads in the country and the Government needed to look at alternatives like building a decent highway north of where the Northern Link would come out, and put a tunnel through the Kaimais at its narrowest point behind Hot Springs Rd - between Aongatete and Katikati.
Mr Dumbar said it was a long-term solution, and in the meantime the agency had to get on with safety improvements. Until SH2 was grade-separated from the side roads, he could not see the problem of intersection crashes going away.
NZ Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty highways manager Niclas Johansson said there had been 64 deaths and serious crashes on SH2 from Tauranga to Katikati.
Data shows "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", he said.
The road was one of the most complex in the country and a $520 million roading package was announced earlier this year designed to transform SH2, he said.
"More safety improvements on SH2 are planned over the next 10 years, focussed on the highest risk sections between Athenree to Katikati and Omokoroa to Te Puna. Over the past five years, on behalf of the Government, the Transport Agency has made around $12 million worth of safety changes designed to reduce death and serious injury crashes on SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi."
"These changes included widening the road, installing guard rails to prevent run off road crashes, wide centre-lines to reduce the risk of head-on crashes. We also upgraded a number of intersections to make it easier for people to turn onto SH2."
Transport Minister Simon Bridges said SH2 was a complex, treacherous bit of road because of the topology and the combination of vehicles that used it.
The road required a systems approach that included the roading improving that were happening, driver behaviour and people getting better safety features on cars, he said.
NZTA would deliver the safety features they were working on, Mr Bridges said in the fastest practical protectory but it did require consultation, consenting and land purchases took time.
Western Bay police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said the road presented "significant challenges" for police, and there had been major work done on it, and also a big programme of work was planned for the future.
"It continues to remain challenging and it can be particularly unforgiving given the large volumes of traffic which use it."
$520 million SH2 Package
Includes the $286m Tauranga Northern Link $150m to support future growth $85 million for targeted safety improvements- NZTA Traffic Volumes There are 11,000 to 12,000 vehicles per day near Katikati That has grown an average of 1% per year over the last 10 years This is expected to continue to around 14,000 to 15,000 vehicles per day over the next 30 years Population growth along the highway is growing and is expected to rise from 21,000 people to 35,000 people in the future- NZTA : Western Bay police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton at the crash scene on Tuesday night.