Yesterday, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) announced roadside barriers and high-performance road markings would be among $2.2million worth of measures taken to make the highway safer.
Twelve people had been seriously injured and nine serious crashes had occurred on the highway in the past 10 years.
Most crashes were caused by drivers losing control or vehicles running off the road into the harbour, NZTA documents showed.
West Harbour board chairman Steve Walker said it was fortunate crashes on the highway had not been worse.
"It’s been a miracle that no-one’s been killed."
At a board meeting on Wednesday the board indicated its support for the safety plans.
NZTA southern region business unit manager Ian Duncan said an 8km section of the highway between Maia and Port Chalmers would be upgraded in stages.
The first stage would focus on a section from Maia to St Leonards where a shared path already provided an alternative route for cyclists.
Work would begin later this year, Mr Duncan said.
The second stage would improve safety between St Leonards and Port Chalmers, and would coincide with work on the final section of the cycleway between Dunedin and Port Chalmers.
When the second stage would start was not known.
It was positive further plans for the cycleway had been made, Mr Walker said.
"It’s great that it seems to signal that the cycleway completion is going to happen sooner or later."
The safety upgrade was part of a $600million government programme to improve road safety throughout New Zealand in the next six years.
