Making Ballance Valley road safer
Road widening is soon to start on the Ballance Valley Road to make the route safer for motorists.
The Ballance Valley Route, which includes Gorge Road and Ballance Valley Road, runs between the Manawatu Gorge and the Pahiatua Track. Tararua District Council roads were used to very low traffic volumes and have been designed and constructed to suit — until the Manawatu Gorge closed.
The route, as well as some others in the district, has been severely affected by the indefinite closure of SH3 through the Manawatu Gorge and the subsequent periodic closures of the alternative Saddle Road, which is being managed and maintained by the NZ Transport Agency.
Traffic volumes have been measured at nearly 1000 vehicles per day, much more than the previous average of under 100 vehicles.
In late 2018 the Tararua Alliance installed centreline pavement markings and raised reflective pavement markers (cat’s eyes) through the route, to minimise the risk of head on collisions.
We were aware that a large number of vehicles were travelling far too fast and crossing the middle of the road. The increased delineation definitely had a positive effect on motorists’ behaviour, however the roads are too narrow in many places, forcing vehicles to travel on the road edges.
The narrow road, which suited its historic low volume nature, combined with the increase in traffic volume, especially trucks, has caused significant damage to the edge of the roads, which is difficult and expensive to maintain or permanently repair under current conditions.
While the Tararua Alliance is regularly patrolling the route to ensure it is safe, a sudden closure of the Saddle Road and the resulting heavy traffic volumes can have significant effects.
Formal road safety assessments have been completed and recently the Tararua Alliance recommended improvements be carried out.
It’s a catch-22 situation. Maintenance of state highways is funded from central government, whereas maintenance of local roads is jointly funded by both central and local government. Ensuring the road is fit for purpose is definitely required, however there is a risk that the improvements may generate more traffic, further increasing maintenance costs and the impact on our local ratepayers.
The improvements will predominantly include widening the route to at least6m, but will also include increased signage and delineation, increasing sight distance in some areas, and possibly installing guardrails where required.
The initial improvements planned will address the key current issues caused by the change in function and use, likely to continue until the Manawatu Gorge Alternative Route project is complete.
Construction is scheduled to begin in late April and it can’t come soon enough for many of the landowners on the route.