Latest news with #TransportAgency
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Warnings black ice may close inland roads
Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry The Transport Agency is warning motorists to take care with black ice and freezing temperatures expected to cause issues in the Mackenzie Basin this week. Waka Kotahi says fog, hoar frosts and black ice are likely to make driving challenging on State Highways 8 and 80 in inland Canterbury over coming days. Parts of State Highway 8 near Lake Tekapo have been reduced to 50 kilometres per hour and roads will be closed if conditions get worse. Waka Kotahi system manager Mark Pinner said while reducing speed is not a usual approach, typical de-icing agents were working at an extreme range, making them less effective. "The nature of the conditions forecast for this week means we need to use every tool we can to keep people safe on the roads," he said. Pinner said motorists should slow down, especially with the roads expected to be busy over the Matariki long weekend. "We also know it's going to get busier later in the week as we get closer to the long holiday weekend for Matariki. Reducing speed is the biggest thing drivers can do to keep themselves safe and to help keep the highways open." Meanwhile, State Highway 7 between Canterbury and the West Coast will remain closed for a second night after a slip discovered on Sunday morning led to the closure between Springs Junction and Island Hills. Waka Kotahi says contractors have worked with a geotechnical expert to prevent further debris falling at the slip, which is just south of Riordan Creek Bridge. The closure includes Lewis Pass and Maruia Springs. There is no detour, and motorists have been asked to delay travel and avoid the area. A single lane is expected to open at 7am Tuesday, with traffic management in place.
Scoop
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Gisborne Truck Route To Quieten As Council Changes Permits
A truck route "in a constant state of deterioration" might become a lot quieter after a Gisborne District Council decision regarding heavy vehicle permits. During council meetings last year, councillors and community members raised safety concerns around trucks travelling along Back Ormond and Ormond Roads. A man who drove daily along Ormond Road to and from work said he had seen too many "near-misses" involving schoolchildren. In July, the council added new maps to the Transport Agency's (NZTA) "H" permit system, which exclude Back Ormond and Ormond Roads. Trucks that carry over 44 tonnes require "H" permits to be driven on roads. These permits were valid for up to 24 months, a council Regional Transport Committee report said. Once these expired, it would be "a decision of Council whether to continue or not". "Over the coming year or so, trucks should stop using this route," the report said. Eastland Wood Council chairman Julian Kohn said the concern was over traffic coming out of the Waimata Valley and Ormond area. "In the next 10-15 years, there's going to be a very significant increase in the volumes of wood coming out of our forests from the Waimata-Hokoroa-Tauwhareparae area, not only from wood council members, but from other forest owners." According to the report, the Ormond Road-Back Ormond Road route is "a local road which the council pays 32 percent towards maintaining and is in a constant state of deterioration because of heavy vehicle traffic". The report said traffic data captured at the port reflected the number of log trucks across the road network, which was 87 percent rural, most of which was built on "unstable ground, not built for heavy vehicles and sustained significant damage from weather events". It also said the number of heavy vehicles to support roading recovery after Cyclone Gabrielle had increased significantly since a 2017 freight report. The move regarding "H" permits on Ormond and Back Ormond Roads comes as the council looks to get safety work funding for "a preferred route" for heavy goods vehicles along State Highway 2 and SH35 (including Awapuni Road and Customhouse Street). The report said the council approved the route in 2020, provided NZTA made "appropriate safety improvements ... at key locations along the way". During consultation in 2020, the "preferred route" received 57 percent support. However, there were significant reasons given for supporting a dual route, such as limiting adverse effects on Kiwi Pools, Awapuni School and residents, beach and surf lifesaving clubs, sports facilities and the Oneroa walkway/cycleway, the report said. To date, NZTA had not allocated any funding for the safety improvements, so the council was working to secure the funding by using transport modelling to demonstrate potential increases and identify "priority safety improvements". No longer permitting heavy vehicle use of Ormond and Back Ormond Rds would allow the council to "monitor enforcement and the impact and use the data for modelling purposes". 56 percent increase in logging truck movements According to the report, since 2019, the number of logging trucks to the port have averaged 800 a day (400 each way). In December last year, the port gained consent to build a twin berth and expects a 42 percent increase in freight movement. "With the port's ability to take logs more consistently with a twin berth by 2030, the number of logging truck movements on the region's network is going to increase from 800 daily average to a peak of 1250, a 56 percent increase." The port said in its Traffic around Eastland Port 2022 resource consent application brief that it did not anticipate a large increase in peak truck volumes, rather, more consistent volumes closer to peak, according to the report. No funding was set aside by NZTA in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Plan for Tāirawhiti state highways to improve road safety at the Hirini Street T-intersection to access Eastland Port, or any other safety upgrades required to safely implement the preferred route, the report said. Eastland Port supported NZTA and council upgrading Hirini Street. "They stated busier days could become more common and the congested periods could become longer before the intersection is upgraded."
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
New Plymouth council to undertake safety audit of new cycleway
Devon Intermediate School principal Jenny Gellen says the cycleway is an accident waiting to happen. Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin A safety audit has been ordered for a controversial cycleway that has divided opinions in New Plymouth, with a view to identify improvements that can be made to the design. Contractors began installing 4 kilometres of concrete separators for the dedicated cycleway earlier this year and most have been in place since April. The $3.8 million NZTA Transport Choices project along Devon Street West and South Road was developed in conjunction with the New Plymouth District council and fully funded through the Transport Agency. New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the cycleway was always going to be controversial, with submissions on the project being split 50/50 for and against. "Once construction has been completed our team will undertake a safety review to assess the new layout, feedback from road users and the views of residents living along the route. "I have asked our team to report back following that process to provide council with any options available to improve the design." Since the beginning of the installation of the concrete separators, which have been nicknamed Tim Tams due to their resemblance to the popular biscuits, there has been a flood of complaints. Residents and businesses have griped about lost car parks, motorists have hit the raised separators damaging tyres and wheel rims, and others have said they couldn't pull over to allow emergency services through because of them. NZTA director of regional relationships Linda Stewart said it was important to note the new cycleway was not yet complete. "We are not aware of any significant safety concerns with the cycleway construction at this stage. "Once it is complete any new roadway layout then has a 'transition' period where it is monitored, and adjustments or fine-tuning is carried out. Equally, road users also take a period of adjustment to new road layouts including cycleways, signalised intersections etc." Stewart said NZTA had worked closely with NPDC on the design and construction phase of the project and would continue to do so in the post-construction phase." North Taranaki Cycling Advocates member Elric Aublant says the concrete separators remind vehicles to stay in their lane. Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin Devon Intermediate School principal Jenny Gellen, whose school was meant to benefit from the cycleway, said the concrete separators were too many in number and too large. "You'd actually have to be driving a quite high-set car, anything that's lower to the ground you're going to take out the bottom of your motor and I don't know what's going to happen to your tyres." The principal had even more serious concerns about the layout of a new pedestrian crossing at Belt Road, a short distance from Devon Intermediate, which was mainly used by West End primary school pupils. It now featured two car parks on the road side of the cycleway separator. "So, students can be standing on the pedestrian crossing with cars parked out in front of it and the students can't been seen by the cars coming down the road ... and the students have to be well out on the pedestrian crossing before they can see the cars. "I have a serious concern that that's actually an accident waiting to happen and it won't be a pretty one." Principal Jenny Gellen says she has serious concerns about road safety. Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin North Taranaki Cycling Advocates Group member Elric Aublant rode his bike every day along South Road on his commute to town until recently moving house. He said the previous, painted-on cycling lane wasn't adequate. "Even when there was quite a decent shoulder space, there were a lot of cars running inside the bike lane, so really not giving cyclists enough space." Aublant had been back to try the new dedicated lane and liked what he saw. "And, so yes, the concrete blocks some people think it is quite an issue because people are hitting them, but I personally think it's a good separation and it's actually forcing drivers to stick to their lane and share the road with other users. "And, yeah, it's a much more safe, more pleasant commute on that road now." He hoped that as people became more familiar with the cycle lanes more would get back on their bikes and try them out. Emergency services providers had a mixed views on the cycleway separators. FENZ Taranaki district manager David Utumapu said it made its concerns known during the submissions process. "We advised the council that we were concerned that traffic might not be able to clear the lane when an emergency vehicle is behind them. "It seems to us that people are not always sure what to do when we're behind them, and few seem willing to drive over the lane separators, leaving a narrow gap on the centreline for our trucks to use." Police did not raise concerns about the cycle lane separators and Hato Hone St John area operations manager Blair Walton said it took part in the 2023 public consultation on their installation and "had no concerns at the time". "As it's early days we're monitoring the situation and how the new layout is working in practice." NZTA's Linda Stewart said concrete cycleway separators had been used safely internationally and in New Zealand. Guidance on the safe use and design of separators was on its website. "To achieve the space for the cycleway, essentially one side of parking was removed. The separators effectively act as a parked car in most respects. Drivers can continue until there is a gap in the separators where it's safe to pull over and stop." Council's major projects and planning manager Andrew Barron said the cycle lane separators were designed to best-practice standards. "Similar cycleways have been installed in other cities across the country. "We understood that there would be a settling-in period as drivers get used to the changed road layout. The separators themselves are not causing the accidents. "We appreciate that previously, drivers could use the cycle lane to manoeuvre into and this ability has been removed to increase the safety of cyclists." Barron said the approved designs allowed most cars, as well as emergency vehicles, the ability to negotiate them as the road width had in most instances stayed the same. "The separators are low enough for most cars to straddle without them hitting the bottom of the car." Construction of the cycleway was due to be complete later this month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Council to undertake safety audit of new cycleway
Devon Intermediate School principal Jenny Gellen says the cycleway is an accident waiting to happen. Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin A safety audit has been ordered for a controversial cycleway that has divided opinions in New Plymouth, with a view to identify improvements that can be made to the design. Contractors began installing 4 kilometres of concrete separators for the dedicated cycleway earlier this year and most have been in place since April. The $3.8 million NZTA Transport Choices project along Devon Street West and South Road was developed in conjunction with the New Plymouth District council and fully funded through the Transport Agency. New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the cycleway was always going to be controversial, with submissions on the project being split 50/50 for and against. "Once construction has been completed our team will undertake a safety review to assess the new layout, feedback from road users and the views of residents living along the route. "I have asked our team to report back following that process to provide council with any options available to improve the design." Since the beginning of the installation of the concrete separators, which have been nicknamed Tim Tams due to their resemblance to the popular biscuits, there has been a flood of complaints. Residents and businesses have griped about lost car parks, motorists have hit the raised separators damaging tyres and wheel rims, and others have said they couldn't pull over to allow emergency services through because of them. NZTA director of regional relationships Linda Stewart said it was important to note the new cycleway was not yet complete. "We are not aware of any significant safety concerns with the cycleway construction at this stage. "Once it is complete any new roadway layout then has a 'transition' period where it is monitored, and adjustments or fine-tuning is carried out. Equally, road users also take a period of adjustment to new road layouts including cycleways, signalised intersections etc." Stewart said NZTA had worked closely with NPDC on the design and construction phase of the project and would continue to do so in the post-construction phase." North Taranaki Cycling Advocates member Elric Aublant says the concrete separators remind vehicles to stay in their lane. Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin Devon Intermediate School principal Jenny Gellen, whose school was meant to benefit from the cycleway, said the concrete separators were too many in number and too large. "You'd actually have to be driving a quite high-set car, anything that's lower to the ground you're going to take out the bottom of your motor and I don't know what's going to happen to your tyres." The principal had even more serious concerns about the layout of a new pedestrian crossing at Belt Road, a short distance from Devon Intermediate, which was mainly used by West End primary school pupils. It now featured two car parks on the road side of the cycleway separator. "So, students can be standing on the pedestrian crossing with cars parked out in front of it and the students can't been seen by the cars coming down the road ... and the students have to be well out on the pedestrian crossing before they can see the cars. "I have a serious concern that that's actually an accident waiting to happen and it won't be a pretty one." Principal Jenny Gellen says she has serious concerns about road safety. Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin North Taranaki Cycling Advocates Group member Elric Aublant rode his bike every day along South Road on his commute to town until recently moving house. He said the previous, painted-on cycling lane wasn't adequate. "Even when there was quite a decent shoulder space, there were a lot of cars running inside the bike lane, so really not giving cyclists enough space." Aublant had been back to try the new dedicated lane and liked what he saw. "And, so yes, the concrete blocks some people think it is quite an issue because people are hitting them, but I personally think it's a good separation and it's actually forcing drivers to stick to their lane and share the road with other users. "And, yeah, it's a much more safe, more pleasant commute on that road now." He hoped that as people became more familiar with the cycle lanes more would get back on their bikes and try them out. Emergency services providers had a mixed views on the cycleway separators. FENZ Taranaki district manager David Utumapu said it made its concerns known during the submissions process. "We advised the council that we were concerned that traffic might not be able to clear the lane when an emergency vehicle is behind them. "It seems to us that people are not always sure what to do when we're behind them, and few seem willing to drive over the lane separators, leaving a narrow gap on the centreline for our trucks to use." Police did not raise concerns about the cycle lane separators and Hato Hone St John area operations manager Blair Walton said it took part in the 2023 public consultation on their installation and "had no concerns at the time". "As it's early days we're monitoring the situation and how the new layout is working in practice." NZTA's Linda Stewart said concrete cycleway separators had been used safely internationally and in New Zealand. Guidance on the safe use and design of separators was on its website. "To achieve the space for the cycleway, essentially one side of parking was removed. The separators effectively act as a parked car in most respects. Drivers can continue until there is a gap in the separators where it's safe to pull over and stop." Council's major projects and planning manager Andrew Barron said the cycle lane separators were designed to best-practice standards. "Similar cycleways have been installed in other cities across the country. "We understood that there would be a settling-in period as drivers get used to the changed road layout. The separators themselves are not causing the accidents. "We appreciate that previously, drivers could use the cycle lane to manoeuvre into and this ability has been removed to increase the safety of cyclists." Barron said the approved designs allowed most cars, as well as emergency vehicles, the ability to negotiate them as the road width had in most instances stayed the same. "The separators are low enough for most cars to straddle without them hitting the bottom of the car." Construction of the cycleway was due to be complete later this month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
05-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
WW2 Home Guard rifle pits discovered off State Highway 3
Two Home Guard rifle pits from WW2 were found to the north of the intersection of SH3. Photo: Supplied/NZTA A piece of Second World War history has recently been uncovered during safety upgrades of State Highway 3 in Taranaki. Two Home Guard rifle pits were found to the north of the intersection of SH3 and De Havilland Drive in Bell Block on the outskirts of New Plymouth. The Transport Agency said it was likely they were constructed between 1941 and 1942 as a defensive position to protect the Bell Block Aerodrome on Te Arei Road, which was being used as a Royal New Zealand Air Force training base, from a potential invasion by Japanese forces. The Home Guard was formed in 1940 in response to the potential threat posed by the Empire of Japan during the Second World War. Membership was initially voluntary but became compulsory from 1942 for men aged 35-50. "These are textbook Home Guard pits," SH3 Waitara to Bell Block project archaeologist Daniel McCurdy said. "These are so textbook, that in fact one of them conforms exactly (within a few inches) to the standard set out for the Home Guard. "However, instead of an optional drainage trench at the base, the men chose to place timbers instead, likely reclaimed from the local farm." There had been a number of archaeological finds since physical works began in 2023. Photo: Supplied/NZTA There had been a number of archaeological finds since physical works began in 2023. Te Ara Tūtohu project manager Calvin Rorke said his team worked closely with archaeologists and cultural monitors in these instances and depend on what was found, the find may be removed or documented and left in place. "The area we are working in is historically significant. It's important that whenever we come across a potential archaeological find in the course of our work that we take the time necessary to investigate. "I know that I, and many of us working on Te Ara Tūtohu, have learnt a lot about the history of this area through our work on the project." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
