MEDIA RELEASE

TRANSIT NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL OFFICE

6 September 2007

Transit moving ahead with SH2 River Road intersection improvements

Transit is moving ahead with plans to improve the intersections of SH2 and Moonshine Road, Whakatiki Street and Moonshine Hill Road, which is good news for motorists in the Hutt Valley.

Wellington Regional Manager Graham Taylor says the design stage for the SH2 intersection improvements on River Road are finished and Transit has advertised the tender for contractors to undertake the construction work.

“This is positive news for motorists and residents in such suburbs as Riverstone Terraces, who have been eager to see improvements made to make the intersections safer,” Mr Taylor says.

Transit expects construction on each of the three intersections to start before the end of the year and be completed half way through 2008, all going to plan.

Of the changes at the three intersections, the improvements include better entry and exit at Whakatiki Street and Moonshine Hill Road, constructing physical islands at both these intersections so motorists can merge more easily with through traffic, removing the southbound Moonshine Hill Road passing lane, relocating this intersection further south and a ban on right hand turns at Moonshine Road.

“These changes will help eliminate many of the crashes that occur at those three points on the state highway on River Road.”

Mr Taylor says there has been a call for traffic signals to be installed at Moonshine Hill Road to manage the traffic movements. They are not part of the intersection improvement projects, however, there will be provision made available for them should they be required in future.

“We don’t believe that traffic signals will be needed with the new Moonshine Hill Road intersection layout, but Transit will continue to monitor all three intersections after construction and consider any other modifications if required.”

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