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