9 February, 2017

Road repairs and safety improvements start at Oakleigh on SH1

The NZ Transport Agency advises motorists using State Highway 1 south of Whangarei of road repairs at Oakleigh to improve the road surface and safety.

The work to fix and resurface the 2.5 km road between Oakleigh Rise and Oakleigh River Bridge will start on Monday, 12 February.

The road repairs will also allow the introduction of safety improvements planned for a 10 km stretch of the highway between Toetoe Road and Springfield Road, says the Transport Agency’s System Manager Steve Mutton.

As the repairs are completed, motorists will see a half metre wide centreline marked with a yellow no passing line on both sides, flexible safety posts with raised reflectors down the centre of the road and rumble strips, says Mr Mutton.

Safety improvements along the entire 10 kms are expected to be completed by June 2018.

The safety improvements will help prevent vehicles crossing the centreline in an area where there have been a number of fatal head on crashes, says Mr Mutton.

In the five year period between 2012-2016, head on crashes have accounted for 7 (or 50%) of the 14 deaths and serious injuries on this stretch of road. In November 2017, three people died and one was seriously injured in a crash at Oakleigh where a vehicle crossed the centreline.

The work at Oakleigh will be carried out in three stages, starting at the northern end near Oakleigh Rise. It’s expected to be completed by Easter, weather permitting.

The repairs will take place at night with manual traffic management in place. There will be temporary speed limits during the day.

The Transport Agency urges all motorists to take care, drive to the conditions and keep to the posted speed limits while travelling through the work area. There will be a reduced speed limit to ensure the safety of all road users, including the road workers.

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