Roadside crosses banned

Transit New Zealand has railroaded plans to erect a mass memorial to the victims of the "unforgiving highway".

The government authority charged with keeping the country's roads safe has refused to allow the Mangatangi Volunteer Fire Brigade to place 85 white crosses along the 35km stretch of State Highway 2 at Maramarua. Each cross represents someone killed along the notorious highway over the past 25 years.

Chief fire officer Don Shanks said about 15 volunteer firefighters gathered last week to make and paint the scores of crosses needed to mark the many lives lost.

Yesterday, they were joined by local families, all of whom have had their lives in some way affected by the crashes along the road, expecting to help erect the crosses.

But, disappointed and angry over Transit's lack of support, all they could do was erect the crosses in a nearby paddock.

Volunteer firefighter Jim Ball said the group felt "hugely frustrated" and let down by Transit.

"For us, it was a big effort to raise awareness about the issue. We are absolutely disappointed our efforts have been for nothing. Transit have done very little to make people aware of the danger."

Mr Shanks said he was told by Fire Service bosses he could put up the memorial if Transit agreed.

Although a volunteer, as chief fire officer any action by Mr Shanks in defiance of Transit's wishes would be frowned upon, he was told. "Government departments can't be seen to be bucking other government departments. I'm really peed off, to be honest. I'm the piggy in the middle. But I'm not a person who just lies down."

Mr Shanks, who has attended countless horrific accidents along the highway, said he would hold off on erecting the crosses in the short term, but would work towards finding a solution.

Transit regional manager Chris Allen said a "mass action" like that planned "did not seem correct" and could be seen as disrespectful by some of the affected families.

"It's a very personal thing to the families of people who have died, and they are decisions they should make." Mr Allen said Transit also believed the crosses could be a distraction to drivers and could pose a safety concern for those putting them up and maintaining them.

He said they could not stop Mr Shanks going ahead with the plan, but they would prefer the Fire Service to work with them on planned "education initiatives". Crosses already punctuate the rural landscape. Franklin mayor Mark Ball and Port Waikato MP Paul Hutchison yesterday erected a cross at the site where English tourist Susan Pritchard was killed last week.

STORY SO FAR

The 35km stretch of road south of the Bombay Hills is one of the deadliest in the country, having claimed 39 lives in five years.

Transit recently put out a draft 10-year plan which showed plans to put in a four-lane highway at Maramarua were a decade away.

Shortly afterwards, Transit announced a quick-fix plan for the highway.

The community has galvanised to lobby for the four-lane highway to be fast-tracked, organising petitions and submissions calling for the Maramarua deviation to be built earlier.

If approved, works costing $43m to improve the road past Mangatawhiri, will begin in October.

- Herald on Sunday