State Highway 1 passing lane gets green light

Two more passing lanes on State Highway 1 south of Whangarei are set to open this week.

On Friday, Transit will officially open a 1.6km-long passing lane at Flygers Road and a 1.6km northbound lane at Tauroa Stream, both south of Whangarei.

Transit is constructing 13 passing lanes north and south of Whangarei at a cost of almost $49 million.

Seven of the lanes are for the southern stretch of SH1 between Whangarei and the Brynderwyns.

The stretch is recognised as one of the most dangerous in the country and has been the scene of at least 90 crashes since January 1999, including 23 fatal and 21 serious accidents.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)