We’re realigning State Highway 3 near Normanby to improve safety and travel times on this busy and important route for the Taranaki Region. The community have advocated strongly for this project and we’re pleased that we can make it a reality.
Construction for the project has now started. In the coming months people will see the removal of the overbridge, realignment of the road and, once complete, will experience a shorter safer route with fewer curves and a highway that can support open road speeds.
The SH3 Normanby Realignment project aims to improve capacity and safety on this critically important route for the Taranaki region.
Benefits
- The project represents a significant investment by the Transport Agency in the Taranaki regional roading network.
- SH3 is an important route for people to travel to and from South Taranaki. This project will improve safety and route efficiency with a straighter and wider alignment, shortening the route length by half a kilometre.
- SH3 is an important freight route. By making journeys shorter, we help to reduce the cost of doing business, and in doing so, grow Taranaki’s economy.
- The new road will be built to 100km/hr standards and will better tolerate heavy vehicle traffic.
- The existing highway route is via Ketemarae Road, Austin Road West and Boylan Road. The realignment means these roads will return to the local roading network managed by South Taranaki District Council.
- A new 3.6km road built north from Normanby on the western side of the railway.
- Demolition of the existing railway overbridge.
- A new alignment without sharp curves.
- 3.5m lanes, 1.5m shoulders, a 1400m northbound passing lane and a 1300m southbound passing lane.
- The new road will link back to the existing state highway via a rail underpass.
- A large section of the road is being lowered by seven metres for the underpass.
Read the 2012-2015 Taranaki Regional Land Transport Programme(external link)
