Taking the highway to safer roads
Crowds of people have taken the opportunity to have their say on potential improvements to a deadly stretch of Taranaki highway.
The New Zealand Transport Authority held its first community consultation session at the Waitara public library on Thursday, to discuss options to improve the safety along State Highway 3 between Bell Block and Waitara.
The 15 kilometre stretch of road, north of New Plymouth, has three of the country’s most dangerous intersections and in the five years between 2010 and 2014 was the scene of 25 fatal or serious injury crashes.
The NZTA says making the route safer is a priority and aerial photos of the highway were on display along with post-it notes so individuals could identify danger spots and make suggested improvements.
NZTA central north island regional relationships director Parekawhia McLean said the highway was alo experiencing increased traffic which was causing delays.
‘‘By making improvements to the roads and roadsides, we will help the people who live and work in the area as well as others who rely on it for wider business or travel purposes,’’ McLean said.
Listening to members of the local community, who knew the roads, would assist the authority to create solutions that would work best for everyone, he said.
Jonathan Marshall said there were a number of problem intersections that needed to be addressed, in any potential solution, and all options needed to be considered.
‘‘There’s obviously some trouble spots that need to be taken care of,’’ Marshall said.
‘‘The road needs to be easy to use for motorists to get from A to B, so the authority needs to keep that in mind and make sure any changes doesn’t slow the traffic any more.’’
He suggested removing local traffic from the main highway would be one option to be looked at.
The safety investigation into the section of SH3 is part of a $600 million nationwide programme announced by Transport Minister Simon Bridges in June 2016.
New Plymouth district councillor Mike Merrick said the roading network was a complex issue with some roads under the NZTA’s jurisdiction and others in the council’s.
‘‘If anything happens it is going to have to be through an agree- ment with both agencies,’’ Merrick said.
‘‘Sometimes it takes time, nothing is going to happen in a hurry but the push is on and has to be a positive.’’
He said any changes would come at a significant cost and where the money would come from was always an issue.
‘‘Everybody has an interest in road safety and nobody wants to see anybody killed or seriously injured and to achieve that we have to spend some money.’’
In June 2016 temporary speed limits introduced by the NZTA during 2013, of 80kmh on either side of the highway’s intersection with Princess St, Waitara and between Mangati Rd, Bell Block, and Mahoetahi Rd, near Brixton were made permanent.
Senior Sergeant Robbie O’Keefe said the session was a great opportunity to meet the people who frequently used the highway and discuss the various options to improve its safety.
‘‘Everyone’s aim including the police and NZTA is to make the journey safer and reduce the number of serious injury and fatal crashes,’’ O’Keefe said.
‘‘Obviously since there has been speed reductions and some general improvements which has dramatically reduced the crashes on that stretch of highway.’’
Vic Hogan said any changes needed to be made as soon as possible.
‘‘It is a too dangerous stretch of highway,’’ Hogan said.
He suggested roundabouts at some of the major intersections, including the one with Airport Dr, could work.
‘‘The amount of traffic coming in and out of the airport is unreal.
‘‘They [roundabouts] work in the Waikato, they calm traffic and everyone knows where they are going.’’
An NZTA spokesperson said there had been a fantastic response from the public.
‘‘Local people know the road better than anyone, they know the hot spots that we want to hear a bit more about,’’ they said.
‘‘They can identify the problems so that we can work through the issues and find solutions.
‘‘It’s good to get the support of people and get their feedback.’’
The second NZTA consultation would be held on Friday at Bell Block’s Fred Tucker Memorial Community Centre between 7.30am and 2pm.