Safety upgrades for SH58, Wellington's most dangerous road
Wednesday, 29 January 2020
The Wellington region's most dangerous road will finally get the safety upgrades that were previously funded, then put on hold, the Government has announced.
In the past 10 years four people have died and a further 19 have been seriously injured on State Highway 58, a main arterial route between Porirua and the Hutt Valley.
Long-awaited roundabouts where Flightys Rd and Moonshine Rd meet the highway will be part of the programme due to be completed by 2023, Porirua City Mayor Anita Baker said.
'I'm really excited and I'll hold them to that.'
**READ MORE:
* Wellington's 'most dangerous road' to get temporary safety measures
* Safety upgrades delayed for Wellington's 'most dangerous road'
* Speed limit to be reduced on notoriously dangerous section of highway**
In 2018, the road's speed was lowered from 100kmh to 80kmh and described at the time by NZTA manager Mark Owen as statistically the region's most dangerous road.
Initially planned to be completed by 2020 - when the opening of Transmission Gully will increase traffic on the road - the second stage of the highway's safety upgrade was put on hold in 2019.
As well as the roundabouts, the programme included widening the road, and installing roadside and median safety barriers.
Despite being previously funded, the NZ Transport Agency said the roundabouts would not be built until more money became available and temporary, interim safety measures would take their place.
Baker said Wednesday's news would come as a relief to residents who had long campaigned for a safer road.
'They'll be able to get in and out safety and they won't have to wait, and it should cut those accidents.'
Resident Sandi Johnston had hoped the roundabouts would have been built faster.
'We've always been told we would get them but now they've put a finite time on it where before they just said it would be after Transmission Gully opens.
'To be told 2023 it's a bit more depressing, but at least we have a date.'