MEDIA RELEASE

NZ Transport Agency Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regional Office

3 June 2013

Road works near Gargan Road completed with safety benefits

Works to improve safety along State Highway 29 at Tauriko is complete and the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says road users will now benefit from safer travels along this stretch of the highway.

The section of the highway between Redwood Lane and Gargan Road has a noticeable new road layout, motorists will be particularly aware that the passing lane has been removed and a right turn bay installed at the Gargan Road intersection.

NZTA spokesperson acting state highways manager, Andrew Scott says “The passing lane was removed to reduce the risk of further crashes from vehicles attempting to turn right into or out of Gargan Road.”

“The merge where the passing lane ended was near the Gargan Road intersection, cars overtaking had limited visibility of cars turning right into or out of Gargan Road.”

“In April there was a minor injury crash where a truck waiting to turn right into Gargan Road from the overtaking lane was rear-ended by three vehicles that were merging from the passing lane.”

Mr Scott says there have been a number of serious crashes over recent years, in particular 25 crashes in the last five years with common issues being the passing lane.

“By removing the passing lane we have also been able to extend the shoulder width and install a wide centre-line, this will allow greater separation for traffic going in the opposite direction.”

He says some of the crashes in particular one serious crash involved a vehicle losing control while attempting to overtake another and crossing the centre line.

“Now there is opportunity for vehicles that cross the centre-line to regain control and travel back into their correct lane."

He says the two wide centre lines in the middle of the road maybe new to drivers.

“These are trial wide centre lines and give greater separation between vehicles and reduce the risk of head-on crashes.”

“The dashed white lines mean that drivers are permitted to pass; however a solid yellow line means overtaking is not allowed. The standard dashed yellow lines provide advance warning to drivers that a no-passing area is ahead.”

To find out more about the trial wide centre-lines you can visit the NZTA website at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/wide-centreline-trial/docs/wide-centreline-trial-infosheet.pdf.

He says the same lines are also used further up the highway at the Omanawa Road and Belk Road.

The installation of rumble strips which will be applied in four weeks time will also further reduce the risk of drivers crossing the centre line, says Mr Scott.

Improving roads and road sides is part of the agency’s Safer Journeys 2020 strategy which applies a Safe System approach to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our regional roads.

The NZTA also uses other technology to provide information to enable drivers to make better informed choices about their travel. On The Move is a free service which enables people to sign up for information about crashes, road works and driving conditions on their frequently used routes - to sign up, go to www.onthemove.govt.nz.

ENDS