We're looking at options to make East Taratahi Rd intersection safer.

SH2 Wairarapa safety improvements

Kia ora

Work to make State Highway 2 (SH2) in the Wairarapa safer is progressing well.

We have been refining the designs we showed at community events last year, including safety barrier, new roundabouts and raised pedestrian crossings.

Designs for median safety barriers along SH2 and roundabouts at Ngaumutawa Road and Norfolk Road intersection are close to being finished.

The team are currently confirming options for the southern part of the corridor near Clareville and working with landowners and iwi.

Once this work is finished, and subject to property acquisition and consents, we plan to share the design with key stakeholders and the public before applying for construction funding.

Designs for the first of the 21 raised pedestrian crossings in the Wairarapa are also close to being finalised, and we expect construction to begin in Masterton, Carterton and Featherston by mid-2021. 

After carrying out community engagement and reviewing speed limits, we are also preparing to formally consult on new safer speed limits between Masterton and Featherston in the coming months. 

We're working towards a future where nobody is killed or seriously injured in crashes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

More information about the 'Road to Zero' and how we are improving road safety in the Wairarapa is below.

Ngā mihi,

Mark Owen

Manager, System Management Wellington

Infrastructure improvements and speed management are one of the five focus areas

What is 'Road to Zero'?

Improving safety on New Zealand roads is a priority for Waka Kotahi. We’re working with the NZ Police, Ministry of Transport, local government, WorkSafe and others to deliver Road to Zero, the government’s road safety strategy for 2020-2030.

Road to Zero sets a target to reduce deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand’s roads, cycleways and footpaths by 40 percent over the next 10 years.

There are five key focus areas:

• Infrastructure improvements and speed management.
• Vehicle safety.
• Work-related road safety.
• Road user choices.
• System management.

Read more about how infrastructure improvements and speed changes are one of the five focus areas. 

Masterton to Featherston Speed Review

In the next few months you'll see information about the next step of the speed review, formal consultation. A proposal for speed changes is being produced and will be published for public submissions.

The proposal takes into consideration the updated technical speed report and the feedback we received both online and at the public engagement sessions late last year.

Consultation is the legal process to change speeds on a state highway.  You can read more about the process on our website. 

Email us at SH2Wairarapa@nzta.govt.nz for more information.

We are reviewing the passing lanes on State Highway 2 as part of this work.

Safety improvements

Last year we shared our concept design with you, which included new roundabouts at both Ngaumutawa and Norfolk Roads and median safety barrier along sections of State Highway 2 to help stop head-on crashes.

The project team has been hard at work since then, progressing detailed designs.

We have been reviewing the passing lanes in relation to the new roundabouts and confirming turnaround options at the intersection of East Taratahi/Wiltons Road and further south toward Clareville.

We are currently working with iwi and affected landowners and getting our consent requirements lined up.

Once this work is finished, and subject to property acquisition and consents, we plan to share the detailed design with key stakeholders and the public, likely by mid-2021.

Following this, we will apply for construction funding.

Project contact: Ulvi Salayev - Ulvi.salayev@nzta.govt.nz

More information

For more information on the SH2 Masterton to Carterton project, or if you have any questions, please get in touch with us at SH2Wairarapa@nzta.govt.nz  or go online www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh2-wairarapa-highway-improvements/