Major highway safety work under way in Hawke's Bay

HBT091590-03: Rumble strip installation is part of the crash prevention work being carried out. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

The New Zealand Transport Agency has kicked off a major Hawke's Bay highway safety improvements programme targeting sections of SH2 north and south which have been the scenes of serious crashes.

Contractors began preliminary works as part of the $24 million programme last month but the main work is set to get under way this month and will include rumble strips, roadside barriers, median barriers on high-risk sections, wider centre lines to reduce the risk of head-on crashes, and wider sealed shoulders.

"Our aim is to substantially lower the number of crashes and to ensure safeguards are in place to reduce the harm caused by any mistakes a driver may make," NZTA regional transport systems manager Wayne Oldfield said.

The figure underlined the high risk factors of the stretches of SH2 between Pakipaki and Waipukurau to the south and Bay View to Wairoa in the north.

Between 2006 and 2015 there had been 34 fatalities and 118 people suffered serious injuries in crashes on both stretches.

"It is pleasing to know this work is now under way as research has shown just how effective these safety measures can be in reducing harm on our roads," Oldfield said.

The safety programmes would mean some disruption for motorists, he said.
Accordingly, NZTA would work in with the contract crews to keep both noise and traffic disruption down as much as possible.

"Traffic will be monitored and any delays kept to a minimum, however we advise people to plan ahead and allow a little extra time while work is under way."

The programme is an extensive one and the completion date has been set at mid to late next year.

A recent crash on the far northern stretch of SH2 has prompted urgent bridge repair work.

Temporary traffic lights have been put in place at the Tahaenui Bridge near Nuhaka north of Wairoa on SH2 where contractors have begun working.

The bridge was damaged about a fortnight ago when an army light armoured vehicle was in collision with a large van, which resulted in two people who had travelling in the van being airlifted to Gisborne Hospital with serious injuries.

In the wake of the crash the bridge was reduced to one lane while crash investigations were carried out.

While it had re-opened the New Zealand Transport Agency has again reduced it back to one lane for the repairs to guardrails to be carried out.

A spokesman said the work is expected to be wrapped up "in the next few weeks".

Along with the single lane temporary speed limits have been put in place along with the traffic light system.

Speed restrictions, along with stop-go signalling, are also in place on SH2 at Putorino where roadside drainage work is under way, between Bay View and Tutira for surface cleaning and Wairoa to Cricklewood for surface repairs.

On SH5 between Napier and Taupo roadmarking crews are at work between Eskdale and Tarawera while kerb replacement is taking place around the Titiokura Hill region.