Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre proposed for Mackays Crossing

Community feedback is sought on a proposed Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC) at Mackays Crossing.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is seeking community feedback on a proposed Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC) at Mackays Crossing.

Once Transmission Gully opens, heavy vehicles will no longer be traveling by the existing site near Plimmerton and a new CVSC is required to serve the greater Wellington region.

The Mackays Crossing site was selected by the agency from 14 potential sites between Ōtaki and Plimmerton, following community feedback on a previously proposed location.

Director of regional relationships Emma Speight said the new site hadn't previously been available, and that it offers a lot of advantages.

"We have listened to the concerns of the community and undertaken a thorough assessment of possible locations.

"The Mackays Crossing site has been selected because of its safety and environmental factors, solid ground conditions, and ease of access.

"It's already being used for Transmission Gully construction, so it also won't result in the loss of recreational reserve land."

Known as the 'sandpit', the proposed location is situated between the Mackays Crossing and Paekākāriki interchanges, and is currently used for storage of materials from the Transmission Gully project.

Formerly known as weigh stations, CVSCs are sites where enforcement officers can undertake checks on heavy vehicles including weight, road user charges, certificate of fitness, logbook, and alcohol and drugs.

The Weigh Right Programme supports the Road to Zero strategy and the agency's aim for a road system free of death and serious injury and will help deliver a level playing field for the heavy vehicle industry.

An important feature of the programme will be the use of roadside technology and intelligent software to screen heavy vehicles and direct potentially non-compliant vehicles into the CVSC for further inspection.

Enforcing weight restrictions, safe driving practices and road-ready vehicles is an integral part of keeping all road users safe and protecting the road network from damage.

"Community feedback about the proposed site of this CVSC will help us fine-tune our plans before we start detailed design work," Speight said.

"As we continue work on access points to and from State Highway 1 and Transmission Gully, we would also like to hear how people intend to use the nearby interchanges and local roads in their own capacity.

"This will inform our plan to get the wider state highway network ready for the opening of Transmission Gully."

Feedback can be provided from Wednesday, October 14 until 5pm on November 6.

The agency is holding a community open day on Wednesday, October 14 at St Peter's Hall, Paekākāriki, from 1.30pm-8pm.

For more information about the proposal and how to provide feedback, visit the Weigh Right website: www.nzta.govt.nz/weigh-right/mackays-crossing