11 June 2004

Strictly slow on Ngauranga

Transit New Zealand is reducing the speed limit to 50km/h in Ngauranga Gorge, State Highway 1, for a month starting on Tuesday 15 June to allow a new median barrier to be put in.

Project manager Stanley Chesterfield says that the median barrier opposite the Kiwi Point road is to be strengthened.

“We have to beef up the median barrier because the existing barrier has been breached twice by trucks.

“A hole will be punched in the existing barrier, and that hole will be covered only by road cones. This is a high traffic volume area so it is essential that the traffic is slowed down while there is no barrier,” he said.

“There will be minimal disruption to traffic flow, which in the peak hour is normally at 50kp/h anyway,” Mr Chesterfield said. “We are asking off-peak motorists in particular to obey the speeding restriction for their own safety and that of others.”

Mr Chesterfield said that although the work will be carried out at night, the speed limit will apply night and day till the end of July. Completion of the work is dependent on the weather, but with good weather, is expected to be at the end of July.

“The Police are strongly in favour of the safety improvements and the precautions we are taking. They have told us that the speed restriction will be strictly enforced.

www.transit.govt.nz

ENDS

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