Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising that work to improve safety on State Highway 3 between Waitara and Bell Block will get underway next Tuesday (9 February).
The section of highway between Bayley Street and Raleigh Street at Waitara will be resealed, and a new wide centreline will be marked to help keep traffic apart, reducing the risk of head-on crashes.
The southbound passing lane at Brixton Hill will also be removed, and new line markings and rumble strips installed.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight says the safety improvements are part of the wider SH3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvement project that aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the busy section of highway.
“These safety improvements will help prevent crashes in the interim and prepare the road for sections of median barrier to be installed once the roundabouts are built.
“Widening the road centreline creates more space between oncoming vehicles, giving people time to react and helping to prevent crashes if someone makes a mistake.
“This work is part of delivering New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy, Road to Zero 2020 – 2030, which aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent over the next decade,” says Ms Speight.
The work will be done between the hours of 6pm and 7am to help reduce disruption to traffic and is expected to take up to nine days to complete.
While work is underway traffic heading north to Urenui will be detoured through Waitara via Nelson St, Mclean St, North St, Richmond St, Princess St, Bayly St.
Residences and businesses on SH3 between Bayly St and Nelson St will remain accessible.
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