SH1 safety under study

THE NZ Transport Agency will make final decisions on safety improvements for State Highway 1 between Dunedin and the Waitaki River Bridge, north of Oamaru, later this year.

Transport agency system manager Graeme Hall said recent public engagement, including a series of community events in Dunedin, Waikouaiti, Hampden and Oamaru, could lead to the installation of barriers or wide centrelines, to help prevent headon crashes; side safety barriers, to stop drivers running off the road into steep gullies, ditches, trees and posts; widening the road shoulder to give drivers more room to recover if they lose con trol; and installing rumble strips.

Improving safety at intersections and the speed along the road would also be looked at, along with other safety issues raised by the public.

‘‘We wanted to find out what makes the road feel unsafe and what people think could make this road safer,’’ Mr Hall said.

‘‘People have told us they feel nervous turning on to or off the state highway at some intersections. They also spoke about the sharp corners and lack of visibility in some areas and highlighted passing lanes that they believe are too short, or dangerous, as they end on the brow of a hill.

In the 10 years from 2007 to the end of 2016, 30 people were killed and 112 were seriously injured on this section of State Highway 1.