Watch for trucks for roadworks
Attenuator trucks are there to keep us all safe
Anyone who travels our state highways regularly would have noticed trucks with flashing lights, directional signage and large, boxy back ends on Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency worksites.
These are attenuator trucks, and they are there to keep everyone safe, Bay of Plenty system manager Roger Brady says.
“An attenuator truck has a protective cushion device on the back designed to reduce injuries and save the lives of motorists and construction workers in the event of a collision at a work site.
“They are designed to absorb a colliding vehicle’s kinetic energy to bring it to a stop safely. With no attenuator, a vehicle striking a rigid roadside object will stop suddenly, causing anyone inside to collide with the interior of the vehicle, possibly suffering severe internal injuries and even death.
“By safely dissipating the vehicle’s kinetic energy, attenuators prevent such injuries,” Mr Brady says.
“You will see attenuator trucks parked in front of fixed and temporary structures at road construction projects on highways and when setting up or dismantling temporary traffic management.
“They may also be designed to redirect the vehicle away from the hazard or away from construction machinery and workers.
“As always, the safety of our workers and road users remains our priority.”
This is what you can expect to see on your journey between Waih¯ı and Tauranga this week:
Ongoing safety improvement works (between 7am-6pm)
■ Athenree Rd to Tanners Point Rd — road-widening works continue throughout the week. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
■ Hikurangi Rd to Tuapiro Rd — lane shifts for retaining wall construction. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
■ Rea Rd / Tetley Rd intersection — preparation works for the roundabout construction are ongoing. Expect minor delays of about five minutes particularly on the side roads.
■ Lund Rd to Aongatete Rd — roadwidening, earthworks, drainage and service relocation works continue with a focus on the Wright Rd intersection. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
■ Wainui River Bridge to south of Sargent Dr — road-widening works continue throughout the week. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
Takitimu North Link enabling works, ecological and environmental investigations: Wairoa Rd (off SH2) — service relocations under way and continuing until mid-March, stop/go traffic management will be in place. In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, works may be postponed.