- Hon Chris Bishop
Transport Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that upgrades to improve the current pedestrian crossing on State Highway 1 (SH1) through Ōtaika, south of Whangārei, are one step closer with a tender now out to deliver a new signalised crossing.
"Carrying more than 20,000 vehicles per day, around six percent heavy vehicles, SH1 through Ōtaika is a very busy highway. Given safety issues raised by the local community over a number of years, the existing unsignalised pedestrian crossing needs an upgrade and we're getting on with it," Mr Bishop says.
"The closest signalised pedestrian crossing is nearly 850 metres north of the current crossing at Ōtaika. With a number of schools, kindergartens, and a medical centre, in the area to the west, and a busy shopping centre to the east, providing a new signalised pedestrian crossing will improve safety and accessibility for everyone.
"There has been a history of incidents at Ōtaika, including rear-end crashes involving vehicles stopping for pedestrians, and incidents involving pedestrians crossing in the area, including two people who were hit by vehicles last year.
"Following ongoing engagement with the local community, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) commissioned design work for a new signalised pedestrian crossing, which will include improvements to streetlights, footpaths, and the road surface.
"A tender for the project was released in August this year, and NZTA expects to award the contract in mid-October. Construction of the new signalised pedestrian crossing is expected to take around 6 weeks and be completed by the end of 2026.
"With a large number of vehicles and freight using the highway to get in and out of Whangārei each day, these improvements will help make this section of the corridor much safer. It will also improve traffic flow for the urban state highway and local road network by reducing the frequent stop/starts caused by an unsignalised crossing.
"I want to thank the local community for their strong advocacy for these upgrades, in particular the local MP Hon Dr Shane Reti who has consistently raised this issue. I look forward to the upgrades getting underway in coming months and a safer more accessible crossing being completed before Christmas this year."
