Upgrade for dangerous intersection

The $2.4m contract for the upgrade 4.5km south of Wellsford has been awarded to infrastructure firm Transfield Services (NZ) Limited.

“Our priority is to improve the safety of road users – both for those people travelling between Northland and Auckland and for those turning here to reach Mangawhai and beaches on the east coast,” says the Transport Agency’s acting Highways Manager, Steve Mutton. “It’s a rural intersection on the open highway with a poor safety history.”

In the past five years to 2008, there have been 20 crashes at the intersection. Six people were seriously injured, and 22 received minor injuries.

“It’s already a busy intersection and we’re planning for the future to ensure it can manage growing numbers of vehicles driving north and south as well as turning here to head across country and to the coast,” Mr Mutton says.

Safety improvements include:

■ Designated right turning bays from SH1 to Wayby Valley Road and Wayby Station Road

■ Improving the line of sight for drivers by leveling a section of SH1

■ Relocating the start of a SH1 northbound passing lane

■ Realigning the Wayby Station Road approach to the intersection

■ Upgrades to lighting, signage and lane marking

Construction is planned to start at the end of the month and the safety upgrade is due to be completed next autumn.