Work on installing median barriers to prevent right-hand turns on State Highway 2, between Waihī and Ōmokoroa, is going ahead as planned.

In response to community unease about the median barrier installation, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says it paused the work “to consider concerns” raised by residents in the area.

Residents of roads adjacent to SH2 are strongly opposed to the median barriers going ahead.

They will prevent right hand turns onto residential roads including Work Rd and Lund Rd – meaning “another seven kilometres” of travel says, former Western Bay of Plenty District Councillor and resident of a Work Rd side road, Mike Williams.

SH2 side road residents, Gino de Graaf, Mike Williams and Kirsten Warbooke at the Lund Rd/ SH2 intersection which will be impacted by median barrier installation. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

In recent weeks, locals have been vocal about their thoughts on the roading project.

A rolling protest was held on Sunday, June 9, where a people donned their vehicles with signs and drove down the highway.

Former Western Bay of Plenty councillor and Work Road resident Mike Williams says 102 cars turned out with their hazard lights on, five police cars on the different side roads, and a tractor.

Some people have event been spray painting over road markings on SH2 with love hearts. NZTA issued a warning about this saying by doing this, “people are risking their own lives and the lives of other motorists on the road. This is an 80km/h zone and, in the dark, drivers are unlikely to see someone standing on the road until it’s too late. It could cost lives”.

The love hearts sprayed over the road markings on SH2. Photo: John Borren.

Regional relationships director David Speirs says the decision has now been made to proceed as planned, with the installation of median barrier on the 1.4km section between Morton Road and Aongatete River bridge underway for the next few weeks.

“We understand that convenience and travel time are important to people as they move about and appreciate that there are concerns for emergency service vehicle access and community connections. 

“This project has undergone several stages of public and stakeholder consultation, including open days, meetings with landowners, hui with iwi and conversations with emergency services.”

David says feedback and suggestions from the community were incorporated where practical.

He says safety improvements between Waihī and Ōmokoroa are 75 per cent complete, with four of six roundabouts built, and the fifth in construction, providing safe turnaround areas ahead of barriers being installed, with 3.8km of median barriers already installed north of Katikati. 

“Every day, 15,000 vehicles travel along this road – and that figure is growing by around 2-3 per cent each year.  

“The installation of flexible median barriers, combined with the improvement works already undertaken, are aimed at reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on this section of SH2 by 75 per cent.”

David says everybody travelling on SH2 deserves to get where they’re going safely.

“There will be adequate space between the guardrail at the edge of the road and the barrier in the centre, allowing room for emergency services to get past in an emergency and to make u-turns where there are gaps in the barrier.

“Fewer serious crashes will also mean fewer road closures for SH2 users in the future.”

Further vandalism has been made along the stretch of SH2. Photo supplied.

A note about recent incidents 

“Following vandalism of SH2 recently, last week, one of our crew was confronted by a member of the public who drove between the cones and parked in the work zone and was abusive and aggressive,” says David.

“This, and several other examples of unacceptable behaviour, have been reported to NZ Police.

“We ask that road users respect the crew as they get on with the job. You don’t have to agree with us, but the online and onsite treatment our staff and contractors have faced is not acceptable.” 

For more information go to: SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (nzta.govt.nz)