MEDIA RELEASE

TRANSIT NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL OFFICE

13 November 2007

Paekakariki intersection modification

Transit and Emergency Services agree on Paekakariki intersection modification
Transit and Emergency Services representatives have met and agreed to a modification in the new Paekakariki Intersection design.

Transit Regional Manager Graham Taylor says the meeting last week resulted in an agreed modification to the seagull design to accommodate local fire service and other emergency service operators’ need to access Paekakariki Hill Road in the event of an emergency.

Mr Taylor says this modification is a slight amendment to the current seagull design and provides a gap in the traffic island in the middle of SH1. This island will be closed with a barrier arm kept under lock and key. Emergency service personnel will have a copy of the key to unlock the barrier. A further amendment to shorten the traffic island at the base of Paekakariki Hill Road will ensure emergency services can gain access when required.

“It was always intended to permit emergency service access directly to Paekakariki Hill Road and I’m pleased we could meet and come to an agreement to ensure that the intersection improvements move forward,” Mr Taylor says.
Arapawa Assistant Fire Commander Peter Dempsey agreed saying emergency services were extremely pleased their concerns about the intersection design had been listened to and acted upon by Transit.

Transit has also made one other further adjustment to the design to include another gap in the traffic island to allow motorists heading south from Paekakariki Township access to the service station adjacent to Paekakariki Hill Road. This addresses concerns raised about limiting access to the closest service station for the residents in the area.

Mr Taylor says construction on the intersection improvement is due to begin this year with service relocation work before Christmas. The main works to alter the intersection layout will start in the New Year.

The work is expected to be finished in April 2008 with Transit monitoring the results of the upgrade after it has been completed.

“We will continue to monitor the intersection once its finished to see how it is performing and then consider if any further changes need to be made,” Mr Taylor says.

ENDS

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