Work on expressway safety starts Monday
Safety improvements to “reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway” start on Monday.
They are part of the NZ Transport Agency’s $36 million investment in the expressway which began in 2017.
Senior project manager Rob Partridge said the improvements, which include flexible median and roadside barriers, were expected to be completed in the next 12 months.
“Between 2008 and 2017, 10 people were killed and 46 were seriously injured in crashes along the Hawke’s Bay Expressway between Bay View and Pakipaki,” he said.
“Our top priority is to make our roads safer for our community and ensure everyone gets home safely at the end of each day.
“These safety improvements will help prevent deaths and serious injuries if you or someone driving near you makes a mistake.”
The work will initially focus on three sections from Flaxmere Ave to Longlands Rd, Prebensen Drive to Taradale Rd, and Pakowhai Rd to Evendon Rd.
The agency said the programme had been designed to keep disruption to a minimum and would provide information on progress and site changes through its website.
Any unexpected delays to the journey time between Hastings and Napier will be communicated on Facebook (Facebook.com/nztacn).
“We do ask for your patience and to be aware of potential lane changes and temporary speed limits as this work progresses.”
The safety improvements are part of the agency’s “commitment to reducing deaths and serious injuries” and align with the Safe Network Programme — a collaborative, prioritised programme of proven safety improvements on high-risk routes.