'Pelted with stones': Roadworks near Whanganui reportedly damage multiple vehicles

Hundreds have commented on road works reported to have damaged some vehicles near Whanganui. Photo / Lewis Gardner

Road resurfacing on State Highway 3 near Whanganui is causing havoc for motorists, with many reporting chipped or cracked windscreens and damaged vehicles.

The roadworks, in Kaitoke near Concord Line, have a temporary 30km/h speed limit, as well as occasional stop/go traffic management.

A motorist this week posted on social media about the condition of the road - and the post attracted hundreds of comments from concerned and frustrated road users.

Georgina O'Malley said the car they were travelling in suffered five windscreen chips within the small area of works alone.

"It's definitely the gravel. We were in a line-up of cars going at a crawl and three trucks passed us, spraying us and the van in front of us with a huge amount of stones," O'Malley told the Chronicle.

"The van in front of us was pulling off as far as they could, going in between cones trying to get away."

O'Malley said she was travelling 30km/h, but there was too much gravel, regardless of the speed.

Another motorist, who did not want to be named, said her windscreen was also damaged travelling along the stretch of road.

"I drive that highway twice a day, every day. Roadworks are a part of life, but that particular day, the loose gravel was excessive. It was deafening," she said.

"I met a builder at my land just out of Turakina and he arrived 10 minutes after me with a completely broken screen. His Hilux is 1 week old."

There seemed to be so much gravel, motorists were still being "pelted with stones" 4km away.

Kirstin Belton, whose windscreen cracked within the 100km/h zone outside the roadworks, said her windscreen was damaged after excess gravel flew at it.

"There was just such a large amount of excess chip for a long stretch of the road after the works," Belton said.

Kirstin Belton's windscreen was damaged travelling through the Kaitoke roadworks area. Photo / Supplied

"I have never come across such a poor set of roadworks."

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency regional transport systems manager Ross I'Anson told the Chronicle excess speed was to blame.

"There is a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. This is a legal speed limit and enforcement is the responsibility of NZ Police," I'Anson said.

"We have received one complaint regarding a cracked windscreen. If traffic adheres to the 30km/h speed limit, this issue is unlikely to occur."

But Belton said speed was never the issue.

"It definitely wasn't speed as we were in a line of people doing about 25km/h or less."

NZTA said the works were expected to be completed by Thursday afternoon.