SH30 Awakeri to Whakatāne safety improvements

SH30 needs to be made safer.

Every day people make mistakes on this road and there are things we can do to make it safer.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is committed to Vision Zero, a vision for Aotearoa New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads.

This stretch of State Highway 30 (SH30) between Awakeri and Whakatane has been identified for prioritised investment in proven safety improvements and safer speeds as part of Road to Zero.

We want to make this road safer so everyone can get where they are going safely.

As the main transport route between Rotorua, Whakatāne and the East Coast, the road is used by a range of road users including daily commuters, freight, local traffic, cyclists and motorcyclists, tourists, and agricultural machinery.

SH30 is predominantly rural and considered high-volume for a two-lane state highway. It has connections to a network of local roads and direct access to adjoining agricultural properties.

Unfortunately, the number of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes on this section of the state highway is increasing.

Between 2017 and 2021 road crashes killed four people and seriously injured 16 others on SH30 between Awakeri and Whakatāne. Almost half of these deaths and serious injuries were from head-on crashes. From January to November 2022 there was one death and eight serious injuries from six crashes.

In 2021, we completed a feasibility study to look at a range of potential safety improvements for SH30, between the intersection with State Highway 2 (SH2) at Awakeri through to Phoenix Drive in Whakatāne.

The safety improvements we’re proposing and seeking feedback on include new roundabouts, safety barriers, and seal widening, and are part of our commitment to Road to Zero, to save lives and prevent people from being seriously injured.

Waka Kotahi has funding from the 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme to progress site investigations and carry out engagement as part of the detailed design process.

Detailed design is where we look at how the road is used and carry out technical investigations like geotechnical site investigations and topographical surveys. As part of this, and to make sure we get the designs right, we also need feedback on what we’re considering from people who use the road.

For the past few months, we’ve focussed on getting feedback from iwi and hapū representatives, Whakatāne District Council staff, landowners, businesses, emergency services and other key stakeholders.

We’ve done our best to reach everyone who lives along SH30 before Christmas. If you live alongside the road but haven’t heard from us, we’ll be in touch early 2023.

In 2023 we will be engaging with the wider community, to seek feedback before we finish the detailed design process. Following that we’ll apply for construction funding.

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This road is important to the local and rural community. Key topics covered during our conversations so far include:

• It’s used by many, from farmers on combine harvesters and tractors or getting stock across the road, to Police and ambulances getting to emergencies.
• How will the barrier work and make it safer? How will other road users access the road?
• Mill Road intersection is used by heavy vehicles (and others). Why not put a roundabout in? Or could the privatised section of Mill Road through to Phoenix Road be used as a public road again?
• Thornton Road intersection is dangerous, and a roundabout would be welcomed.
• Why is a median barrier needed for this part SH30?
• How will the project support future development (industrial, commercial or residential) along SH30?
• What’s being done to fix the road surface now?

The next step is to hear from other people in the community – those who regularly use the highway, who live nearby, or have interests in the area – to understand how the road is currently used.

We’re keen to hear what you think and if there are any changes we could consider as part of the detailed design process.

We will be holding public information sessions early 2023.

We will advertise and promote these before they happen.

We expect to make an announcement on the speed review early in 2023, with safer speeds in place soon after.

Safer speed limits are something we can do now to improve safety, as the physical safety improvements will take some time to build.

SH30 Tikitere to Whakatāne speed review

Together, safety improvements in speed and infrastructure will save lives and reduce the number of people seriously injured. Combined, they are an important part of Road to Zero, Aotearoa New Zealand’s road safety strategy.

Speed affects both the likelihood of a crash, and the severity of it. Even when speed doesn’t cause a crash, it’s what will most likely determine whether anyone is killed or injured, or walks away unharmed.

Once the safety improvements are completed on SH30, there will be an opportunity to reassess the safe and appropriate speed limits.

We’ve looked at the types and causes of crashes on SH30 and identified improvements that puts the safety of people first.

The proposed improvements mean people will have to change the way they use the road in the future, but they will save lives and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on this road.

What we can do now:

• Safer speed limits – a small change in speed can make a big difference to the outcome of a crash. The outcome of the SH30 Tikitere to Whakatāne speed review is expected to be announced early in 2023 and safer speeds in place soon after.

What we’re proposing for further investigation and feedback:

• Flexible median safety barriers to prevent head-on crashes - they are designed to flex when hit, slowing your vehicle and absorbing the impact of the crash.
• Providing wide road shoulders at regular intervals to allow slow vehicles to pull over, so emergency vehicles can pass easily.
• Making some side roads and accessways left in and left out only, so people don’t have to cross the busy highway.
• Upgrading key intersections with roundabouts, to make it safer for people to turn on and off the state highway and provide a turnaround function to support the median barrier. 

When flexible safety barriers are installed along the centre of the road, they prevent head-on crashes and can reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes by 65 percent.

To achieve the greatest safety benefit for the flexible median safety barriers, we need to have as few gaps as possible. This means people accessing the highway from a private access or side road may only be able to turn left unless a safe turnaround area has been provided.

Along this stretch, we are proposing three roundabouts to provide safe turnaround areas and to slow traffic through busy intersections.

Roundabouts make a big difference to safety at intersections. They would also give drivers a safe place to turnaround if the flexible median barrier is installed.