Removal of Outside Edge Rumble Strips on Kapiti Expressway

NZTA have announced plans to remove all the outside edge rumble strips on the new Kapiti Expressway. These were added after the road opened, and have proven to be a major source of the excessive noise experienced by residents.

Nick Fisher, Expressway Noise Action Group spokesperson, said “While are pleased that NZTA have acknowledged their mistake in fitting these rumble strips, we should never have been put in this position. Their own guidelines state that ‘audio tactile profiled markings’ should not be used in noise sensitive areas, yet they proceeded to fit them, arrogantly ignoring the adverse effects they have had on residents.

“These markings cost around $7,500 per kilometre to lay, so that is a monumental waste of money,” Nick said.

Residents were originally told by NZTA at two recent ‘information sessions’, that they would be removed by the end of October.

“This time frame has now been pushed out to the end of January, and only the outer strips will now be removed, leaving the inner strips to continue to wake residents at night. Despite acknowledging our pain, they are still only completing half the job”.

NZTA have also begun to erect ‘no engine braking’ signs on the expressway. These advisory signs were expected by the Board of enquiry to be erected before the road opened. However only 3 signs have been erected northbound by the end of the October, the date when NZTA had told residents the job would be completed.

“Again NZTA is dragging the chain. They seem to be deliberately making life hard for residents, which doesn’t bode well for their intentions when building the next section to Otaki. Residents along that route need to get organised now and realise how untruthful and uncaring NZTA has been.”

ENAG are calling on NZTA to contain the road noise within the road corridor, with properly built earth bunds and noise walls.

“Of course these mitigation measures will cost a significant amount, perhaps $20M to $40M, but they should have been allowed for at the design phase, and the costs should never have been passed on to the community. Recent highly volatile meetings between residents and NZTA have made them well aware this issue will not go away. We are hopeful that with new people now in charge, that logic and fairness will prevail.”

ENDS

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