Safety upgrades delayed for 'Wellington region's most dangerous road'

Monday, 20 May 2019

Safety upgrades for 'the Wellington region's most dangerous road' have been delayed.

Despite being previously funded, two roundabouts on State Highway 58 in Porirua won't be built until more money becomes available, which means they won't make their planned 2020 completion date.

The delay is the latest in a growing list of the region's roading projects to be put on the back burner, even as a $6.4 billion traffic-fix for the city was announced last week.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said funding was set aside for the entire SH58 project based on estimated costs but, as the project developed, more funding was needed: 'This is not unusual for projects like this'..

**READ MORE:

* Extra 12,000 cars to hit road between Lower Hutt and Wellington

* Speed limit to be reduced on notorious section on State Highway 58

* Hutt Valley calls for an urgent NZTA review into deferred projects**

Announced as part of a safety package for the notorious road in 2018, the roundabouts were to be built where Flightys Rd and Moonshine Rd meet SH58, a main arterial route between Porirua and the Hutt Valley.

The announcement included a decision to lower the speed limit from 100kmh to 80kmh and, at the time, NZTA manager Mark Owen said the lower limit and safety features were aimed to make an immediate impact on crash rates.

'Since 2008, four people have died and 68 people have been injured, including 15 seriously, in almost 200 crashes on this road. Statistically, this is the Wellington region's most dangerous road.'

Last week the  NZTA's website listed 2020 as the estimated completion date but now makes no mention of it.

Senior Project Delivery manager Karen Boyt said funding for the first half of the road's improvements  - including barriers, sealed shoulders and an uphill crawler lane -was allowed for and the project's second stage would go ahead as funding became available.

The roundabouts would not be built before the opening of Transmission Gully - the $850m fast-road to Wellington - which would link with the road: something the Automobile Association's Mike Noon said was 'a huge concern'.

'It's already one of the highest-risk stretches of highway in the country so adding thousands more vehicles travelling on it with no clear date for when the bulk of safety improvements will happen is really worrying.'

The highway was part of the Government's Safe Network programme supposed to be investing $1.4b into upgrading the country's high-risk roads and Noon questioned where it's approved funding had gone.

'If a highway included in that programme is delaying work because of funding issues that would raise questions over many other safety programmes in the pipeline.'

Road Transport Forum Chief Executive Nick Leggett agreed with Noon and said a pattern was emerging in the region's transport programmes. 'I wouldn't put my money on the work being completed.'

Porirua residents were entitled to safe roads and all transport was entitled to surety. 'Leaving it until Transmission Gully is constructed and 6500 vehicles are on the road is a catastrophe.'

Upper Hutt City Mayor Wayne Guppy termed SH58 'the forgotten highway' despite it being a major route in and out of  the Hutt and Wellington.

'Not only is it not safe, it's an economic engine for the region and hugely important. It needed urgent attention 15 years ago and now we're going to throw at least 30 per cent more traffic on it.'

Porirua City councillor Anita Baker said she was appalled by the delay. 'Porirua residents were promised a safe road with two roundabouts …NZTA must ensure the promised safety improvements will be done before Transmission Gully opens.'

The region's transport projects given the red light:

Lower Hutt's Melling Interchange: The SH2 project designed to keep traffic flowing has been put on the back burner with funding not sought for the next decade.

Petone-to-Grenada Highway: The proposed $270m project has been in the pipeline for almost a quarter-century but will not be considered for funding until 2028.

State Highway 58 safety upgrade: Plans for roundabouts at intersections on the busy arterial route have been pushed back until after 2020 and when funding is available.

Peka Peka Interchange: Approved under the previous Government, plans for a new interchange off the Kāpiti expressway were scrapped earlier this year.