NZTA seeks feedback on highway

Work on road safety improvements on State Highway 1, between Mosgiel and Balclutha, is to begin late next year.

But before then, Otago residents will have an opportunity to say what some of those improvements should be.

NZ Transport Agency system manager Graeme Hall said agency staff would be at the Otago Taieri A&P Show on Saturday, to talk about possible road safety improvements and get feedback from people who use the road.

He said the improvements were part of the Safe Roads and Roadsides Programme, which aimed to reduce deaths and serious injuries on high-risk rural highways.

Between 2006 and 2015, 12 people died and 66 were seriously injured on the route, he said.

Many of the crashes happened when drivers ran off the road and hit trees or power poles.

There were also head-on crashes.

``We want to make changes to the road so that simple mistakes don't cost lives.

``We are considering adding safety barriers to catch vehicles if they leave their lane and widening the road shoulder, where possible, to give drivers room to recover if they lose control.

``We'd encourage anyone who's interested, to come and see us at the Otago Taieri A&P Show or share their views online or by mail.''

Mr Hall said the project team attended the South Otago and Tokomairiro A&P Shows last year and received valuable feedback.

``As every-day users of the road, residents were able to share their personal insights, such as the impact of wind on journeys along the route, and lack of visibility at intersections.''

He said the ``first-hand knowledge'' would help the team develop the most appropriate safety solutions for the stretch of road.

The work is part of the Government's $600 million Safe Roads and Roadsides Programme.