$29 million for safety improvements to SH3

1 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineNovember 21, 2018

Urgent safety improvements will be done on SH3 from Waitara to Bell Block to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries, Minister of Transport Phil Twyford has announced.

The $29 million dollar project will start in February and will include safety upgrades between Raleigh Street and Waiongana Stream. Over the next three years, a new right turn pocket on SH3 into Wills Road will be built, with an extension of the right turn pocket into Corbett Road following. There will also be SH3 widening between Wills/Corbett and Mahoetahi Road for wide shoulders with wire rope safety barriers.

Twyford said too many people are dying or being injured on our roads and these safety upgrades will make this busy section much safer while also catering for future growth.

“State Highway 3 is one of the busiest stretches of road in the region, carrying a mix of freight and commuter traffic, and provides access to New Plymouth Airport and the port.

“The NZ Transport Agency is prioritising urgent safety improvements to make them more forgiving of human error. Drivers will always make mistakes and the government‘s job is to stop those mistakes turning into tragedies.”

Twyford said the community has been asking for safety improvements for some time and he wanted to acknowledge them and New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom for their advocacy.

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