Work Starts Today On River Road Intersection Improvements

Transit has awarded the contract and begins work today to improve three intersections on SH2 along River Road.

Transit Regional manager Graham Taylor says he is delighted to announce that work has begun to improve the intersections of Moonshine Hill Road, Whakatiki Street and Moonshine Road after a $3.4m contract for the improvements was awarded to contractor HEB Smithbridge.

“Everyone has eagerly been waiting for these changes, so it gives me great pleasure to tell everyone that work is now under way on River Road,” Mr Taylor says.

The contract will improve the three intersections by improving their layout, signage and street lighting and scheduled to be completed in the middle of 2008. Work has also been scheduled to avoid disruption to traffic in the Christmas lead-up period.

“The contractor, the same one that finished Blenheim’s SH1 Awatere Bridge Project ahead of schedule, has taken possession of the site already. This means there will now be a visible presence on the road, but the pre-Christmas work will not interfere with traffic movements as it is at the side of the road.”

Mr Taylor says he is looking forward to the enhanced safety benefits these intersection improvements will provide motorists travelling along SH2 in Upper Hutt.

“The aim of this project is to reduce the number and severity of accidents in the area. I am sure the community will be as keen as I am to see the works completed.”

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.

ENDS

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