Motorists travelling between Tauranga and Katikati say people may experience delays.
SunLive readers say there are people protesting on SH2, near Sharp Road.
One reader reported that some people were on roundabouts and that people should drive with care in the area.
Residents who live along SH2 are protesting NZTA installing median barriers on the highway.
The barriers are being installed as part of the SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety improvements project for the NZ Transport Agency.
A spokesperson for the roading agency says the aim of the barriers is to prevent head-on crashes, save lives and prevent serious, life-long debilitating injuries.
“We acknowledge these barriers can make life a little bit more challenging for some road users, however we believe the risk of not making it home altogether is much worse,” says NZTA in a statement provided to SunLive.
“Research shows where they are installed, median barriers typically reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes by 75 per cent.”
In a previous story on SunLive, protest organiser warned that “this would be quite a big event”.
“Please come along and show how you feel and think about the proposed median barriers,” says the road representative in the email they sent out to all side road residents.
Residents say they are not opposed a center barrier, they are asking NZTA to allow right-hand turns into side roads that barriers will cut off.
Residents say there are at least eight side road that will be closed, with near to 1000 households on them.
For more information, visit the ‘Flexible road safety barriers’ page on the NZTA website: www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/road-engineering/road-safety-interventions/flexible-road-safety-barriers
9 comments
wake up
Posted on 16-07-2024 11:08 | By Country life
I live on one of the side roads in question and cant believe the stupidity of all those protesters. yes we will have a couple of extra minutes travel but the barriers aren't there to inconvenience us .They are there to SAVE lives. one life saved makes it all worth while. maybe if we were better drivers they wouldn't be needed ? I don't know how many times I have been overtaken on the inside on the slow vehicle bays just because you idiots are in so much of a hurry. a few more minutes driving because of barriers isn't going to kill you but no barriers could. think about why they are going up and stop thinking only of yourselves !
Cheesecutters
Posted on 16-07-2024 12:22 | By Duegatti
That's what bikers call wire rope barriers. I knew one young guy who would have survived a crash if he had not been horrifically killed by the barrier.
There have been others as well.
And, these barriers do not stop heavy vehicles
NZTA are more interested in doing it on the cheap , rather than use safer systems
Improving safety
Posted on 16-07-2024 12:33 | By gaelicc
NZTA claim a 75% reduction in injury from crashes at intersections. And yet they haven't provided any data on the crashes at the intersection affected along SH2. We live just off Lund Rd, and I understand that there have not been any crashes at that intersection in the 5 years since the road was widened and turning lanes added. So NZTA at fixing a problem that doesn't exist, inconveniencing everyone who lives down that road and increasing the traffic having to use the roundabouts.
Is it too much to expect NZTA to provide accident statistics for every intersection they are planning to block? Focus on fixing real problems!
Emergency services
Posted on 16-07-2024 13:28 | By Saul
So what happens if u have a medical event on the other side of the road and the ambulance is coming from Tauranga? It has to travel further to be able to turn around......
No right turn
Posted on 16-07-2024 15:22 | By fluffy
With the slower speed limit it will slow people down so why have the barrier so you can’t turn right l had to go to hospital in an ambulance on Monday the rain extremely heavy and the extra
6 kms made the journey more agonising
Also what about emissions l am sure each vehicle is more than one cow
Deplorable cable barriers
Posted on 16-07-2024 19:26 | By Aah well
After all the talking up by NZTA about the barriers, only to now learn they are installing the horrendous steel cable variety. These are extremely dangerous for motorcyclists. They should be banned!
SallyKeith
Posted on 17-07-2024 08:04 | By Ridgetop
As a resident of Lund Road, if I needed the defibrillator located at Fairview golf club, I would now have to drive an extra 7kms to get it back to the patient. That’s not “an inconvenience”, that’s a potential death. We need our access to our community
A JOKE
Posted on 17-07-2024 09:57 | By JimmyH
There has been new wire rope barriers installed in highway 2 Otamarakau which is a 100kph section of highway with a down hill corner with an advised corner limit of 65kph, the new centreline barrier goes from the top of the hill down around the bottom 65kph corner, my point is the barrier has a gap in the middle to allow traffic to access the Otamarakau marae, it's a gravel road, My question is why? if the NZTA are so anal about the Tepuna barrier yet further south where the limit is 100kph and the access is minor and a blind (to vehicles on the side road) uphill stretch of road then who authorized that design? or is it because it's a marae?
@ Ridgetop
Posted on 17-07-2024 11:56 | By Yadick
If you have to drive anywhere to get a defibrillator it's more than likely going to be too late. In your panic (at the time) you may likely have or cause an accident as well because you sure won't be legally driving to the speed limit.
My suggestion would be to house one in your community, available by one phone call. We have done exactly that and it cost us $75 each to buy one. Huge reassurance knowing it's there.
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