It is ranked among the nation's top 10 riskiest stretches of roads, but the NZ Transport Agency is assuring motorists that work is taking place to ensure State Highway 29 in the Kaimai Range meets safety requirements.
NZTA figures show over the last five years, between 2009 and 2013, State Highway 29 north of Tauranga has seen five fatal crashes, ranking it seventh on the KIWIrap national risk list.
Motorists travelling towards Tauranga on State Highway 29 near the McLaren Falls road intersection. Photo: Bruce Barnard.
The New Zealand Road Assessment Programme, KiwiRAP, analyses the road safety of the state highway network. It is a partnership between the NZ Automobile Association, NZ Transport Agency, Ministry of Transport, ACC and NZ Police.
Included in the five are Tauranga's Lisa Boston, who was killed when her car collided with a logging truck near the Ruahihi Power Station in June 2013, and 52-year-old Graeme Voyce, whose Rover MG crossed the centre line just past McLaren Falls Road in July 2013.
And following Sunday's two-car crash at the intersection with McLaren Falls Road, the stretch of road is yet again coming under close public scrutiny, with concerns including the placement of roadwork blockades.
Four women were hospitalised after their black Nissan Note was hit by a Toyota Hilux at the intersection of McLaren Falls Road and State Highway 29 at about 3.30pm
'When are they going to make that intersection safer, how many more accidents need to happen before they do something?” one SunLive Facebook comment reads.
A NZTA spokesperson says because the crash is still an ongoing police investigation, it would be inappropriate to make any comment on the incident, apart from regarding the installation of fibre optic cable.
The spokesperson says there is currently is a safety fence in place to the left of the intersection after the utility contractor sought approval from NZTA to install the fibre-optic cable within the state highway.
'This process includes a traffic management plan and safety plan,” says the spokesperson. 'Transport Agency contractors have checked the position of the fence and confirmed it does not compromise the line of sight from the intersection.”
NZTA wouldn't be drawn on the risks the highway poses, but says the organisation is working hard to help create a transport system that is increasingly free of deaths and serious injuries.
Included in this are a number of safety projects undertaken in the last year, includinginstalling safety barriers, widening sections of highway and installing new electronic curve warning signage.
A New Zealand-first safety pilot, which will see weather-activated variable speed limit signs installed on SH29 over the Kaimai Range, will also get underway this year.
The signs will be linked to the weather station at the summit of the Kaimai Range and would be activated by adverse weather conditions.
The spokesperson continued: 'The people who are involved in road crashes are not statistics, and crash figures don't tell the story of the huge impact on family and friends when loved ones are killed or seriously injured.
'We all have a responsibility to look after ourselves and our families, as well as others we share the road with.”
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion told SunLive yesterday that there has been extensive work done in the past on this intersection in terms of improving sight lines for motorists.
He said it is the driver's responsibility to ensure there is clear visibility both ways before making a turn onto any road.
'And just like any other intersection, motorists need to adhere to all road rules and apply common sense when behind the wheel,” says Ian.
Recent safety projects on SH29 include:
- Flush median and wide centre-line between Tauriko and Redwood Drive
- Right turn bay into Ruahihi Road
- Side barriers and a wide centre line between Soldiers Road and Ngamuwahine Road
- 1.5km of extra roadside barriers
- Right turn bays into Gargan Road
- The Transport Agency is also about to start seal widening near Poripori Road
16 comments
Rastus
Posted on 03-03-2015 13:44 | By rastus
Wow for those who think this is a risky road should have travelled it in the 50s - then it really was a challenge
What about ...
Posted on 03-03-2015 13:57 | By 2cents
State Highway 2??? The stretch of road from Te Puna to Apata has seen more fatalities than State Highway 29 in the last year or so, well if not then very close! The thing is though, it's not the roads - it's the drivers.
Madness
Posted on 03-03-2015 14:03 | By festino lente
This road is hugely busy, with a massive variety of vehicles, vehicle weights, vehicle speeds and driver types (from professional to the weekend tourist). It would be a surprise to not see near incidents on most trips over , which is highly concerning
It's not the Roads.....
Posted on 03-03-2015 16:08 | By EtcEtc
Yes we have had a few fatals along our stretch of roads recently, but how is driver error the roads fault..... Lisa Boston's accident was driver error due to sun strike, the lady who was killed in Te Puna was texting, the accident at McLaren Falls road, the fatal on The Flying Mile, due to something falling off the back of a truck, causing the young man to take evasive action...Once again to driver error. Come on peeps, stop blaming our roads, slow down, drive to the conditions, and be patient.
SH29
Posted on 03-03-2015 16:43 | By YOGI BEAR
That should be a 4 lane road, motorway type from Tauranga and linking up with SH1 this side of Cambridge somewhere, that is the only answer, an autobahn is the way to go. Do it once do it right. That would also allow the port to be well served and provide the road space for moving he rocketing traffic volumes.
Silly drivers is the real problem.
Posted on 03-03-2015 19:26 | By dgk
Is it one of the riskiest roads, or is it full or drivers taking lots of risks? I think it's the later.
risky road or incompetent drivers
Posted on 03-03-2015 19:53 | By hapukafin
I have driven this road from when it was unsealed over the top and never had any problem with it from then and Im not a 80kph driver.If a driver isnt able to stay on the black stuff he or she should not be on the road.Learn to drive properly ,know your car ability to corner down windy hills and drive within its limit,most important of all keep your concentration on driving not sight seeing or chatting with your passengers.
After the fact
Posted on 03-03-2015 20:20 | By Ruff
'Transport Agency contractors have checked the position of the fence and confirmed it does not compromise the line of sight from the intersection.” THAT'S CAUSE THEY'VE BEEN MOVED SINCE THIS ACCIDENT!
Not the road
Posted on 04-03-2015 08:14 | By blueit7
I drive this road every day and there is nothing wrong with it. I'm surprised there aren't in fact more incidents given the muppet driving I witness on a daily basis. The accidents mentioned in the article are as a result of the driver making a terrible, terrible mistake not the road. Now we need signs to tell us to slow down if the weather changes? For goodness sake, drive to the conditions, obey the road rules, concentrate and don't take stupid risks that put yourself, your passengers and other drivers at risk.
patients.
Posted on 04-03-2015 08:38 | By whatsinaname
There is nothing wrong with the road. Its the idiots that are in a Hurry.. . The mclarens falls intersection is a bit tricky with the two lanes coming up on your right but there is plenty of visability. hundreds of cars use it each day, especially in the weekends. Just a little bit of care, if you see something comeing just wait. may be another minute but its worth the wait. . The only dangerous part of SH29 is the Cambridge road intersecton at Tauriko. a round about it definitely needed there..
dangerous ?
Posted on 04-03-2015 08:53 | By ow
has there been even 1 accident on S.H.29 that hasnt been human error in the last 20 years ?
More Carnage coming
Posted on 04-03-2015 11:26 | By Kaimai
Ruff is correct - the roadworks fence has been moved since the accident - prior to moving it it was near impossible for vehicles too view traffic coming up the Kaimais, even in a ute. McLaren Falls residents are being placed in jeopardy because of the installation of fibre optic cables,yet Mclaren Falls residents are not going to be able to access the fibre optic cables - shame on the install planners. As for the cookie cutter cables installed near Soldiers Road, just wait to see how much carnage they will cause over winter on a chicane type road prone to black ice - can't see how a wide white painted centre line is going to stop ice forming and vehicles crashing.
SH 2 worse
Posted on 04-03-2015 16:33 | By freedomkiwis
Has NZTA had their eyes closed on SH2? That stretch of road has had more than five fatalities just in the last 12 months and nothing is being done there.
wHAT A DUMB STATEMENT.
Posted on 15-03-2015 17:11 | By s83cruiser
There is nothing wrong with the road only the people that drive it. You cant alter the road to accommodate dumb. But on the other hand yes the road sucks but only when you are on two wheels. The road surface is a patchwork quilt with ill fitting repairs at every turn. In a car you don't tend to notice the corrugated asphalt surface or the 50mm rise or drop between the original road surface and the inept repairs in the road. Why is it that the road crews only cut the bad asphalt out to the middle of the ride line of the road.??? Why can't they cut the surface back to the centre line and right to the outside edge of the road??? The road is a kidney buster in places and the off camber corners on both sides don't help much either.
It's the DRIVERS!
Posted on 19-03-2015 08:31 | By Mackka
There is NOTHING wrong with the roads! Drive to the conditions - if the road is a bit patchy or whatever - then slow down a bit! As 'Ow' asks - has there ever been an accident on that road in the past 20 years that has not been driver error? Improve the road and get more speed - get more deaths!
Mackka
Posted on 25-03-2015 15:33 | By YOGI BEAR
Agree it is the drivers, most accidents are for no other reason, drunk, incompetent, vehicle beyond the driver, arrogance, aggression, impatience and all of that all results in messes on the road. Example, you have a perfectly flat road, straight and clear day and no other vehicle in sight. yet the one car there crashes into the side barrier for no obvious reason. In fact this has the look of Janet Wilmshurst report, except it crashed before even getting on the road.
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