Category: Transport

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Repairs underway on tomo on State Highway 1 near Kinleith, south Waikato

The tomo, which is around 1.5 metres deep and six metres long, has developed near the Mangaharekeke Bridge. The road is closed between SH30 Ongaroto Rd and the SH30 Rotorua turn-off. People travelling from Tauranga and Rotorua are advised to consider using SH5 to Taupo.

Waikato Transport System Manager Karen Boyt says work is underway on the repair.

“Our contractors and geotechnical teams have moved quickly to keep people safe and start repairing the road. They will continue to work overnight so the road can be reopened as quickly as possible.

“Road users should check our website or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to see if the road is open before travelling,

“People should also drive carefully and to the conditions on the alternative route as it may be unfamiliar to some drivers,” Ms Boyt says.

Ms Boyt says the tomo is currently thought to have been caused by the stream eroding the bank abutting the bridge.

Updates are available here: http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/roadhazards/234362

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: NZTA says circumstances surrounding Dargaville crash ‘totally unacceptable’

NZ Transport Agency Chief Executive Fergus Gammie says the circumstances which saw a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) issued to an unsafe vehicle which was subsequently involved in a fatal crash are totally unacceptable. 

65-year-old William Ball was killed when the car in which he was the front seat passenger lost control and crashed into a ditch near Dargaville on 6th January this year. The driver of the vehicle has pleaded guilty to driving related charges, but is yet to be sentenced.  

Police investigating the crash found that the front passenger seatbelt in the vehicle was frayed and failed in the crash. Dargaville Diesel Specialists (DDS), who issued a WoF to the vehicle in December 2017 just a month prior to the crash, admitted it had done so without properly inspecting the vehicle, in particular the seatbelts.

“DDS didn’t check the vehicle properly. They failed William Ball.

“However, the NZ Transport Agency’s regulatory regime also failed him and that is unacceptable,” Mr Gammie says.

The NZ Transport Agency was aware DDS had serious regulatory compliance issues on an intermittent basis since 2011. There were a number of opportunities to undertake enforcement action, and the most serious infraction took place just weeks prior to the crash when NZTA observed DDS staff issuing warrants without properly inspecting vehicles, including seatbelts. 

In late August, DDS was suspended from issuing any vehicle certifications. NZTA has also written to all vehicle owners receiving WoFs from DDS to strongly recommend they get their vehicles re-checked, with NZTA meeting the cost of re-inspection.

Mr Gammie also noted that major change is underway within the Transport Agency to take a tougher enforcement approach to regulatory compliance.

In mid-October, the NZ Transport Agency Board together with the Minister of Transport, Hon Phil Twyford announced an extensive review of the Transport Agency compliance files by law firm Meredith Connell was underway and a tougher enforcement regime was being implemented. Meredith Connell is currently leading the regulatory function at the Transport Agency. 

“What happened in Dargaville is an example of how our previous high-trust, education-focused regulatory regime has failed New Zealanders. We effectively trusted DDS to voluntarily improve its practices despite it having a significant track record of non-compliance. Furthermore, last December when the lack of seatbelt checks during Warrant of Fitness inspections were uncovered, the Transport Agency didn’t take decisive action or appropriately escalate the issue internally,” Mr Gammie says.

“As a result of Mr Ball’s death, alongside our review of regulatory compliance, the Transport Agency has also engaged Kristy McDonald QC to conduct a full inquiry into this case. Her report – which will be released to the public once complete – will independently establish the facts, identify the specific failings of the Transport Agency’s performance as a regulator and make recommendations on any further steps we should take.

“The Transport Agency’s objective is to ensure the failures that occurred with Dargaville Diesel aren’t repeated,” says Mr Gammie.

The NZ Transport Agency is asking anyone who has concerns about a WoF issued by Dargaville Diesel to please make contact by calling 0800 108 809.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Programme to deliver transport improvements for south west and south east Auckland including airport area

The NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport are working together on the Southwest Gateway programme to deliver three projects to create an integrated, 21st century transport system to move people and freight between the city’s south east including Botany and south west including Onehunga, Mangere, as well as the south including Manurewa, Papakura and Pukekohe.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: South Island weather event update – 11:45am

NZ Transport Agency Systems Manager Pete Connors says SH73 from Arthurs Pass to Jacksons will not open over the weekend, with the next update at 12pm Monday, 12 November. There is an alternate route in place via Lewis Pass SH7, and drivers are advised to factor in an additional 90 minutes for their journeys. 

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Overnight re-surfacing on State Highway 2 starts on Sunday night

The work will start on Sunday and Monday nights between Dobson Road and Mangatawhiri Road near the SH1 interchange at Pokeno. It will continue from Tuesday to Thursday between Dimmock Road and Heaven Road before the SH2/25 roundabout leading to Thames.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Innovative safety signs coming to Otago intersection

The signs, known as an Intersection Speed Zone, detects when someone is turning into or out of a side road and temporarily reduces the legal speed limit on the state highway (from 100 km/h to 70km/h). They also do this when someone is crossing the state highway from a side road. 

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Transport workshop focuses on new Dunedin Hospital site

“Work on the new hospital design is advancing rapidly, and we need to be in a position to respond to proposed changes to the transport network in 2019 to feed into the next phase,” says NZ Transport Agency Director Regional Relationships Jim Harland.

The new Dunedin Hospital site lies between the two one-way State Highway 1 roads and crosses St Andrew Street, on the former Cadbury factory site and Wilson’s car park.

“This new hospital in its new location provides a catalyst for possible once-in-a-lifetime changes to the Dunedin transport network.  Its construction and operation in the town centre provides an opportunity to better integrate the transport network with the activities of the Dunedin central city,” says Mr Harland.

This opportunity is wider than the new hospital as there are also number of other development opportunities in Dunedin including enhancements to the City Centre, Tertiary Precinct and the Waterfront area.   

Hosted by the Transport Agency and the Dunedin City Council, the two-day workshop on 6 and 7 November features presentations by key Dunedin stakeholders such as the University of Otago, Otago Regional Council, Port Otago and the Chamber of Commerce. The Transport Agency and DCC will also present at the workshop on potential future network scenarios and ask for stakeholder feedback.  There will be other opportunities for stakeholders and the community to provide feedback as the design process continues.

DCC Chief Executive Sue Bidrose says that the Dunedin Hospital build at more than $1 billion is a very large public investment for both Otago and the South Island.

“The hospital will have a huge influence on traffic flow in the inner city during its construction and operation. This work is important to ensure we can get around our ‘great small city’ during the build and into the future.”

Southern Partnership Group Chairman Pete Hodgson, says, “This is an exciting opportunity – having Dunedin’s key organisations together to get their ideas about how to make sure the hospital build and the city’s work for improvement gel together. We have a strong desire for safe and logical connections between the city and the hospital. We are working to a tight schedule, but this effort gives us a chance to enhance the whole area.”

Southern District Health Board Chief Executive Officer Chris Fleming, says “The new hospital needs to be safely accessible for patients and staff. We are aware there are existing urban design and transport projects in the central city area around our new site. We are keen to work with the Transport Agency, the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council to make sure connections function well for all forms of central city transport.

More information about the new Dunedin Hospital and its recently chosen site here: https://newdunedinhospital.nz/

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Remedial work to begin on Takitimu Drive pathway near Waikareao Estuary

Wet weather has damaged this section of the finished pathway and caused the surface to become uneven, so remedial work is being carried out to level the pathway in the affected areas and to add a new surface layer to provide a smoother and more even finish. 

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Draft plan to improve safety on State Highway 1 between the Selwyn River and Ashburton

The NZ Transport Agency has released a proposed plan designed to reduce death and serious injury crashes on the main highway south of Christchurch. They are encouraging people to have their say at one of three community drop-in events later in November.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: NZ Transport Agency wins global award for putting customers at the heart of decision making

The award recognised the 2016-17 planning and consenting stage of the project to build a new motorway connection between SH1 and SH18 on Auckland’s North Shore to complete the Western Ring Route, as well as increasing transport choices for everyone by extending the Northern Busway and creating over 7kms of new walking and cycling paths.

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