Tina Jennen's car mangled in a collision on State Highway 2 south of Katikati, prompting her partner to call for safety upgrades. Photo/George Novak
The partner of a woman seriously injured in a head-on crash on a notorious stretch of State Highway 2 is calling for safety upgrades on the road to be fast-tracked.
Prominent Tauranga businesswoman Tina Jennen's arms and legs were broken in the head-on collision 2.5kms south of Katikati on Tuesday.
She and the other driver were trapped in their cars with serious injuries and the highway was completely closed for several hours.
Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times from Tauranga Hospital, her partner Bastiaan Kramer said Ms Jennen had broken all her limbs in the crash -"she can't move, everything is in a cast."
She was the former CEO of Plus Group companies, has been involved with Enterprise Angels and was currently running Eurofins Scientific Bay of Plenty based in Katikati.
Tauranga Hospital could not provide details on the other patient involved in Tuesday's serious crash.
Mr Kramer said ongoing safety improvements to the road needed to be fast-tracked due to the high number of accidents.
Mr Webber said that beyond strongly advocating that to the NZTA in several meetings before Christmas, speeding up the upgrade was outside district council's realm.
"The money has been put aside and we would like them to bring [safety improvements] forward, ideally have it done before the weekend," Mr Webber said.
As part of the $520 million roading package for State Highway 2 between Waihi and Tauranga, $30 million had been set aside for safety upgrades between Athenree to Katikati South.
However, it did not sound as if construction on the upgrade would begin any time soon, he said.
NZTA Bay of Plenty acting state highways manager Mark Haseley said they were advanced in the processes of determining what type of safety upgrades were needed for the highway south of Katikati.
After another community engagement in March, the solutions would be finalised by the middle of this year, he said.
"We are aware the community wants to see some safety improvements sooner rather than later and where we can facilitate this we will, but it is too early to say where and when they will occur."
SH2 KATIKATI RESEALING THIS WEEKEND - Pre-planned annual resealing work was to take place on SH2 both north and south of Katikati starting this Friday, January 13. - From 5am on Friday and Saturday motorists should expect delays north of Katikati at the Athenree Gorge and south of Katikati between Tetley Rd and Hot Springs Rd and Thompson's Track and Walker Rd. -Summer was the best time to reseal as this was when the seal sticks to the road.