Upgrade To Raumati Straight State Highway 1

Transfund Approves $3.17 Million Upgrade To Raumati Straight State Highway 1

Transfund has approved a $3.17 million project to introduce median barriers to nearly 3km of State Highway 1 at Raumati Straight, just north of the Mackays Crossing on the Kapiti Coast.

The project, to be completed within 2 years, will improve road safety by widening the highway and installing a central median barrier, similar to that installed on State Highway 2 three years ago between Korokoro and Dowse Drive intersection.

Martin Gummer, Chief Executive of Transfund said, “Transfund, as the national road funding authority, is committed to ensuring value for money from the projects we fund for road users and our assessments have shown that this project is a worthwhile investment.

“The Raumati Straight is a section of road with high traffic flows, used by about 23,000 motorists per day, and there have been two fatality crashes on this section of highway in the past five years.

“Installing a median barrier on the Raumati Straight will eliminate the risk of head-on crashes and once this project has been completed, crashes involving injuries are expected to reduce by about 50%, from an average of 4 per year to 2 per year.”

Funding for the Raumati Straight project has come from a national budget pool of up to $100 million, set aside for ‘projects in the pipeline’, which may be approved during the year. The project has a benefit:cost ratio (BCR) of 4.2. A BCR ranks projects for funding on a national basis before Transfund approves them for funding. Transfund is approving projects with a BCR of 3 and above during the 2000/2001 year.

Transfund has now allocated $64.86 million to the Wellington region for the 2000/2001 year. Significant Wellington projects which have gained funding for SH1 include the construction of four lanes between Pukerua Bay and Plimmerton to improve this section of the highway’s poor crash record (estimated cost: $9,000,000), and the installation of variable message signs in Ngauranga Gorge ($5,000,000).

This year, Transfund has also funded continuing investigations into the Kapiti Urban Roadway project ($3,173,000) and Transmission Gully ($2,145,000) and improvements into intersections on SH2 between Melling and Petone ($2,805,000).

“Median barriers have been shown to be a strong factor in eliminating the incidence of head-on collisions and the introduction of barriers to the Raumati Straight means driver safety will be much improved,” Mr Gummer said.

Ends

For further information, please contact:
Murray Riley Phone: 04 495 3263
National Roading Manager
Transfund New Zealand

Notes:

i. The NRP is the national budget for the construction and maintenance of New Zealand’s road network and the provision of publicly funded passenger transport services. Transfund, a Crown entity, is responsible for investing road user funds to achieve a safe and efficient roading system throughout New Zealand. It provides for Transfund’s and Transit’s administrative costs and contributes to local authorities’ administration costs related to roading and public transport. It also funds research and industry training.

ii. All project costs are total costs (excluding GST) but include Transfund’s allocation and, where applicable, funding by the relevant local authority.

iii. Further detail on the NRP is available on the Transfund website : www.transfund.govt.nz