We’re making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Towns along the route and the Rakaia BridgeWe won’t be installing safety barriers in townships along the route. However, we will be looking at speeds, and ways to improve visibility. People have told us they feel unsafe walking and driving across the state highway in some townships and we want to change that.

We will also be instigating a speed review across the Rakaia Bridge as people say they feel unsafe crossing it.

Have your sayHelp us get it right. Let us know what you think about this option and if you think we have missed anything important.

Janet Luxton, Community Engagement Manager, 022 313 3012

r2a@saferoads.co.nz

Krystal Bennett was just 18-years-old when she was killed in a head-on crash in 2005

Flexible road safety barriers workSeventy percent of the deaths on this road are caused by head-on crashes. We know flexible road safety barriers will make a difference.

Flexible road safety barriers ‘catch’ vehicles that leave their lane before they hit something less forgiving – like other vehicles or roadside hazards such as trees, poles and ditches.

When a vehicle hits a barrier the high-tension wire cables flex, slowing down the vehicle and keeping it upright during and after a collision. The barrier absorbs the impact, reducing the force on the people in the vehicle. Flexible road safety barriers are designed so they don’t penetrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle. They are also designed so a vehicle is not deflected into another traffic lane. Depending on the speed and angle of the impact, a number of posts may bend over. This is how the posts are designed.

What makes them ideally suited to many New Zealand roads is that they are narrow so can often be installed without significant widening of the road. They are cost effective to install, and they work – results show a 70–80 percent reduction in road fatalities.

What about motorcyclists? Some people think the steel ropes will act like a ‘cheese-cutter’ when they’re hit by a rider. Studies have shown this isn’t correct. In fact it’s the opposite. Barriers, especially flexible safety barriers, can reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads by 50 percent.*

Barriers between lanes stop a driver’s mistake from becoming a rider’s nightmare. They can also stop riders ending up in the path of oncoming traffic if they come off their motorcycle.

You can read more about flexible road safety barriers here: nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Next stepsOver the next few months we will take this option out to landowners, stakeholders and the wider community to see what they think. We’ll consider feedback and make tweaks where we need to before making any final decisions and applying for construction funding. Have your say online at nzta.govt.nz/r2ae

Now to late 2018 Talk with landowners, stakeholders and the

community about this option and gather feedback.

December 2018 – early 2019Use feedback to look at our options and make any required changes.

Early 2019Finalise preferred option and inform the public.

2019Work through our internal processes to apply for funding approval for construction. Once funding is approved and we have expected construction dates we will update everyone again. We expect work to be staged over the coming years.

This valuable feedback helped us shape a draft option to help stop people dying or being seriously injured on this road. It includes:

» Installing flexible road safety barrier down the middle of the road to stop head-on crashes.

» Adding turnaround areas at regular intervals to give people places to safely move around.

» Another option is widening the centreline so there is more space between traffic travelling in opposite directions.

» Changing some intersections so there is no right turn in or out of roads off the highway. This can

Wide centrelinesWidening the centreline is a simple and effective way to keep distance between drivers.

SpeedSpeed can be the difference between a correctable mistake and a fatal error.

help prevent side on (t-bone) crashes caused by drivers turning across the busy highway. This will also prevent drivers from crashing into the back of vehicles that are waiting to turn right, and vehicles stacking over the railway line while waiting to turn right.

» Improving other intersections and adding right turning bays to make those intersections safer.

» Installing sections of side barrier in high-risk locations (such as in front of a culvert or drain).

» Laying rumble strips to give tired or distracted drivers a wake-up call if they stray across the line.

» Improving road markings so they are easier to see at night and in wet weather.

» Instigating speed reviews at Dunsandel, Rakaia, Selwyn and Chertsey, across the Rakaia Bridge and at some major intersections.

Thursday 22 NovemberDunsandel Community Centre Tramway Road, Dunsandel3pm to 6pm

Friday 23 NovemberFormer Ashburton i-SiteEast Street, Ashburton10am to 1pm

Saturday 24 NovemberThe Salmon Fish Reserve, Rakaia Corner of SH1 and Elizabeth Street 11am to 2pmLook out for our marquee

Come and meet the team and find out more at one of our community drop-ins

You can go online and leave feedback on our interactive map, and see what others have to say on our website nzta.govt.nz/r2ae by Sunday 9 December.

How is this project funded and how much will it cost?This project is part of the Government’s Safe Roads and Roadsides Programme. This first stage, which includes design, is being funded through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Once we gather feedback and finalise our preferred option we will have an estimated construction cost. Then we can then work through our internal processes to apply for construction funding.

*Carlsson, A. (2009). Evaluation of 2+1 roads with cable barrier. Final report. VTI rapport 636A

4 3 8

Flexible road safety barriersThese barriers catch drivers who leave their lane before they hit something harder like trees, poles, ditches or other vehicles.

A car driven by a woman on methamphetamine crossed the

centreline and collided with Krystal’s Toyota. Krystal survived long enough to tell someone her name.

A 12-year-old boy, a passenger in the other car, was also killed.

Krystal’s parents, Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett campaigned for a

flexible road safety barrier on the road so no-one else would have to face

what they have been through.

Mrs Barnett believes all high-risk rural

highways should have safety barriers and encourages communities to get behind safety improvements on their roads.

“The cost of losing our daughter was astronomical,” she said.

“No family should ever go through what we did. Safety barriers are simple things but they work.”

“If a safety barrier had been in place that head-on crash wouldn’t have happened and Krystal would be here with us today.”

nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett

INFORMATION SHEET TWO | NOVEMBER 2018

We’re looking at ways to make State Highway 1 (SH1) between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer for everyone. We know people make mistakes, but there are changes we can make so that simple mistakes don’t cost lives.

Selwyn River to Ashburton safety improvements

Help us get it right

HELP US TO MAKE YOUR ROAD SAFER

1

Racecourse Rd

Fairfield Rd

Parkins Rd

Synlait Milk Ltd

Heslerton Rd

Telegraph Rd

Breadings Rd

Sheats RdSharlands Rd

Frasers Rd

Hororata Dunsandel Rd

Browns Rd

Yankee Crossing

Golf Links Dr

Works Rd

Hatfield Overdale Rd

Chertsey Line Rd

Chertsey Kyle Rd

Doigs Rd

Wilkinsons Rd

Mitcham

Rd

Camden StBoundary Creek Rd

Jamiesons Rd

Northpark Rd

Coplands Rd

Frasers Rd

Sheats Rd

Old Sth Rd

Old Sth Rd

Som

erto

n Rd

Wards Rd

Coplands Rd

Dromore Methven Rd

Winchmore Dromore Rd Stanley Rd

Rolleston

Methven/M

t Hutt

Rakaia River

Selwyn River - Waikirikiri

ASHBURTON

RAKAIA

Making the road between Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Roadside safety barrier

Median barriers or wide centreline

Project length

Wide centreline

Turn around facility if median barriers are installed

Multi-directional turnaround

Right turn upgrade (full access)

Left in/out only (restricted access)

Side road closure

Jamiesons Rd

Wards Rd

Chertsey Kyle Rd

Coplands Rd

Coplands Rd

Chertsey Line Rd

CHERTSEY

Pendarves Rakaia Rd

Main Rakaia Rd

North Rakaia Rd

Weavers Rd

S Tw

o Ch

ain

Rd

North Rakaia Rd

Willow RdEldon St

Selwyn Lake Rd

Harris St

Park St

Railway Tce

Eldon St

Cam

den

St

Selw

yn La

ke R

d

Railway Terrace

Mar

ket P

l

Selwyn Lake Rd

We’re looking at ways to make the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer Frequently asked questionsHow much longer will I have to travel to get to a turnaround bay?

If we install safety barriers down the middle of the road we would look at installing turnaround bays regularly along the route. Exact sites are yet to be finalised. We want to hear from the community and people who use the road to confirm the best locations. These turning bays would be installed less than five kilometres apart, which means the most anyone would need to travel to a turnaround bay is around four minutes.

Will agricultural or over dimension vehicles still be able to use the road?

Yes. All of our proposed changes cater for all vehicles. We will make turnaround areas big enough for these vehicles, and as side barriers will only be installed at a few high-risk locations, there will still be room to pull over.Over dimension vehicles will be able to lift their loads above the barrier height to travel.

What about emergency services? How will they get to people in an accident if barriers are installed?

Barriers can be lowered and driven over in emergency situations. However, median

barriers significantly reduce the number of crashes on

roads where they are installed.

Why don’t you just build a four lane highway?

With the road toll increasing we need to move quickly to take actions we know will help prevent deaths and serious injuries on this road. These works do not prevent larger scale work being carried out in the future if they are required but they will help stop people being killed or seriously injured straight away.

Will the public have a say?

Yes. We have been working with the community, other road users and stakeholders over the past year, and that will continue as this project moves forward.

The people using these roads have ideas and experience that can help us, and it’s important that any changes we may make fit with the way they use the road. While we have a proposed plan it is not yet finalised, and we will be looking for input from the public on the final design. Find out how on the back page of this information sheet.

What about landowners?

We have written to landowners that may be affected and plan to meet with them to discuss these proposed changes.

We understand that not everyone likes the idea of flexible road safety barriers down the middle of the road.

We want to make this road safer for everyone and easy to use, and we know there is a fine balance. The existing passing lanes will remain in place so you will still be able to pass, and we will make sure there are turning bays every few minutes so you can easily change direction.

Making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

5 6 7

Turnaround baysWe will make sure there are turnaround bays every few minutes so you can easily change direction. We are considering turnaround bays at:Selwyn Lake Road East, Camden Street, Sharlands Road, Breadings Road, North Rakaia Road West, Pendarves Rakaia Road, Stanley Road, Dromore Methven Road. Tell us what you think.

Wide centrelinesIf we don’t install safety barriers in the middle of the road we will widen the centreline to create more space between you and oncoming vehicles. More space between lanes can reduce serious crashes by up to 20 percent.*

*High-Risk Rural Roads guide, published September 2011, NZ Transport Agency. First Edition. [PDF, 3.6 MB]

‘Jug handle’ type turnaround area

Flexible road safety barrier

Flexible road safety barrier

‘Jug handle’ turnaround bay Many of the turnaround bays along the road would be a ‘jug handle’ design. This design gives people a safe place to turnaround without crossing two lanes of traffic.

State Highway 1 between the Selwyn River and Ashburton is a high-risk rural road. 13 people have died and 49 have been seriously injured in crashes between 2007 and 2016. 70 percent of deaths are from head-on crashes.

The NZ Transport Agency has been looking at ways to make this road safer. To make sure we get things right we sought feedback from the community and stakeholders. We asked people what makes this road feel unsafe and what worries them the most.

Drivers crossing the centreline

Turning off and on the State Highway in general,

but particularly at the Sharlands Road, Frasers Road, Browns Road and Dromore intersections

Walking and/or driving across

SH1 at Rakaia and Dunsandel

The main things that make people feel unsafe:

The high traffic volumes

Parking around the Mobil Service Station in Rakaia and food outlets

in Dunsandel, which makes visibility difficult

for local traffic

Crossing theRakaia Bridge

2

We’re making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Towns along the route and the Rakaia BridgeWe won’t be installing safety barriers in townships along the route. However, we will be looking at speeds, and ways to improve visibility. People have told us they feel unsafe walking and driving across the state highway in some townships and we want to change that.

We will also be instigating a speed review across the Rakaia Bridge as people say they feel unsafe crossing it.

Have your sayHelp us get it right. Let us know what you think about this option and if you think we have missed anything important.

Janet Luxton, Community Engagement Manager, 022 313 3012

r2a@saferoads.co.nz

Krystal Bennett was just 18-years-old when she was killed in a head-on crash in 2005

Flexible road safety barriers workSeventy percent of the deaths on this road are caused by head-on crashes. We know flexible road safety barriers will make a difference.

Flexible road safety barriers ‘catch’ vehicles that leave their lane before they hit something less forgiving – like other vehicles or roadside hazards such as trees, poles and ditches.

When a vehicle hits a barrier the high-tension wire cables flex, slowing down the vehicle and keeping it upright during and after a collision. The barrier absorbs the impact, reducing the force on the people in the vehicle. Flexible road safety barriers are designed so they don’t penetrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle. They are also designed so a vehicle is not deflected into another traffic lane. Depending on the speed and angle of the impact, a number of posts may bend over. This is how the posts are designed.

What makes them ideally suited to many New Zealand roads is that they are narrow so can often be installed without significant widening of the road. They are cost effective to install, and they work – results show a 70–80 percent reduction in road fatalities.

What about motorcyclists? Some people think the steel ropes will act like a ‘cheese-cutter’ when they’re hit by a rider. Studies have shown this isn’t correct. In fact it’s the opposite. Barriers, especially flexible safety barriers, can reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads by 50 percent.*

Barriers between lanes stop a driver’s mistake from becoming a rider’s nightmare. They can also stop riders ending up in the path of oncoming traffic if they come off their motorcycle.

You can read more about flexible road safety barriers here: nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Next stepsOver the next few months we will take this option out to landowners, stakeholders and the wider community to see what they think. We’ll consider feedback and make tweaks where we need to before making any final decisions and applying for construction funding. Have your say online at nzta.govt.nz/r2ae

Now to late 2018 Talk with landowners, stakeholders and the

community about this option and gather feedback.

December 2018 – early 2019Use feedback to look at our options and make any required changes.

Early 2019Finalise preferred option and inform the public.

2019Work through our internal processes to apply for funding approval for construction. Once funding is approved and we have expected construction dates we will update everyone again. We expect work to be staged over the coming years.

This valuable feedback helped us shape a draft option to help stop people dying or being seriously injured on this road. It includes:

» Installing flexible road safety barrier down the middle of the road to stop head-on crashes.

» Adding turnaround areas at regular intervals to give people places to safely move around.

» Another option is widening the centreline so there is more space between traffic travelling in opposite directions.

» Changing some intersections so there is no right turn in or out of roads off the highway. This can

Wide centrelinesWidening the centreline is a simple and effective way to keep distance between drivers.

SpeedSpeed can be the difference between a correctable mistake and a fatal error.

help prevent side on (t-bone) crashes caused by drivers turning across the busy highway. This will also prevent drivers from crashing into the back of vehicles that are waiting to turn right, and vehicles stacking over the railway line while waiting to turn right.

» Improving other intersections and adding right turning bays to make those intersections safer.

» Installing sections of side barrier in high-risk locations (such as in front of a culvert or drain).

» Laying rumble strips to give tired or distracted drivers a wake-up call if they stray across the line.

» Improving road markings so they are easier to see at night and in wet weather.

» Instigating speed reviews at Dunsandel, Rakaia, Selwyn and Chertsey, across the Rakaia Bridge and at some major intersections.

Thursday 22 NovemberDunsandel Community Centre Tramway Road, Dunsandel3pm to 6pm

Friday 23 NovemberFormer Ashburton i-SiteEast Street, Ashburton10am to 1pm

Saturday 24 NovemberThe Salmon Fish Reserve, Rakaia Corner of SH1 and Elizabeth Street 11am to 2pmLook out for our marquee

Come and meet the team and find out more at one of our community drop-ins

You can go online and leave feedback on our interactive map, and see what others have to say on our website nzta.govt.nz/r2ae by Sunday 9 December.

How is this project funded and how much will it cost?This project is part of the Government’s Safe Roads and Roadsides Programme. This first stage, which includes design, is being funded through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Once we gather feedback and finalise our preferred option we will have an estimated construction cost. Then we can then work through our internal processes to apply for construction funding.

*Carlsson, A. (2009). Evaluation of 2+1 roads with cable barrier. Final report. VTI rapport 636A

4 3 8

Flexible road safety barriersThese barriers catch drivers who leave their lane before they hit something harder like trees, poles, ditches or other vehicles.

A car driven by a woman on methamphetamine crossed the

centreline and collided with Krystal’s Toyota. Krystal survived long enough to tell someone her name.

A 12-year-old boy, a passenger in the other car, was also killed.

Krystal’s parents, Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett campaigned for a

flexible road safety barrier on the road so no-one else would have to face

what they have been through.

Mrs Barnett believes all high-risk rural

highways should have safety barriers and encourages communities to get behind safety improvements on their roads.

“The cost of losing our daughter was astronomical,” she said.

“No family should ever go through what we did. Safety barriers are simple things but they work.”

“If a safety barrier had been in place that head-on crash wouldn’t have happened and Krystal would be here with us today.”

nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett

INFORMATION SHEET TWO | NOVEMBER 2018

We’re looking at ways to make State Highway 1 (SH1) between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer for everyone. We know people make mistakes, but there are changes we can make so that simple mistakes don’t cost lives.

Selwyn River to Ashburton safety improvements

Help us get it right

HELP US TO MAKE YOUR ROAD SAFER

1

We’re making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Towns along the route and the Rakaia BridgeWe won’t be installing safety barriers in townships along the route. However, we will be looking at speeds, and ways to improve visibility. People have told us they feel unsafe walking and driving across the state highway in some townships and we want to change that.

We will also be instigating a speed review across the Rakaia Bridge as people say they feel unsafe crossing it.

Have your sayHelp us get it right. Let us know what you think about this option and if you think we have missed anything important.

Janet Luxton, Community Engagement Manager, 022 313 3012

r2a@saferoads.co.nz

Krystal Bennett was just 18-years-old when she was killed in a head-on crash in 2005

Flexible road safety barriers workSeventy percent of the deaths on this road are caused by head-on crashes. We know flexible road safety barriers will make a difference.

Flexible road safety barriers ‘catch’ vehicles that leave their lane before they hit something less forgiving – like other vehicles or roadside hazards such as trees, poles and ditches.

When a vehicle hits a barrier the high-tension wire cables flex, slowing down the vehicle and keeping it upright during and after a collision. The barrier absorbs the impact, reducing the force on the people in the vehicle. Flexible road safety barriers are designed so they don’t penetrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle. They are also designed so a vehicle is not deflected into another traffic lane. Depending on the speed and angle of the impact, a number of posts may bend over. This is how the posts are designed.

What makes them ideally suited to many New Zealand roads is that they are narrow so can often be installed without significant widening of the road. They are cost effective to install, and they work – results show a 70–80 percent reduction in road fatalities.

What about motorcyclists? Some people think the steel ropes will act like a ‘cheese-cutter’ when they’re hit by a rider. Studies have shown this isn’t correct. In fact it’s the opposite. Barriers, especially flexible safety barriers, can reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads by 50 percent.*

Barriers between lanes stop a driver’s mistake from becoming a rider’s nightmare. They can also stop riders ending up in the path of oncoming traffic if they come off their motorcycle.

You can read more about flexible road safety barriers here: nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Next stepsOver the next few months we will take this option out to landowners, stakeholders and the wider community to see what they think. We’ll consider feedback and make tweaks where we need to before making any final decisions and applying for construction funding. Have your say online at nzta.govt.nz/r2ae

Now to late 2018 Talk with landowners, stakeholders and the

community about this option and gather feedback.

December 2018 – early 2019Use feedback to look at our options and make any required changes.

Early 2019Finalise preferred option and inform the public.

2019Work through our internal processes to apply for funding approval for construction. Once funding is approved and we have expected construction dates we will update everyone again. We expect work to be staged over the coming years.

This valuable feedback helped us shape a draft option to help stop people dying or being seriously injured on this road. It includes:

» Installing flexible road safety barrier down the middle of the road to stop head-on crashes.

» Adding turnaround areas at regular intervals to give people places to safely move around.

» Another option is widening the centreline so there is more space between traffic travelling in opposite directions.

» Changing some intersections so there is no right turn in or out of roads off the highway. This can

Wide centrelinesWidening the centreline is a simple and effective way to keep distance between drivers.

SpeedSpeed can be the difference between a correctable mistake and a fatal error.

help prevent side on (t-bone) crashes caused by drivers turning across the busy highway. This will also prevent drivers from crashing into the back of vehicles that are waiting to turn right, and vehicles stacking over the railway line while waiting to turn right.

» Improving other intersections and adding right turning bays to make those intersections safer.

» Installing sections of side barrier in high-risk locations (such as in front of a culvert or drain).

» Laying rumble strips to give tired or distracted drivers a wake-up call if they stray across the line.

» Improving road markings so they are easier to see at night and in wet weather.

» Instigating speed reviews at Dunsandel, Rakaia, Selwyn and Chertsey, across the Rakaia Bridge and at some major intersections.

Thursday 22 NovemberDunsandel Community Centre Tramway Road, Dunsandel3pm to 6pm

Friday 23 NovemberFormer Ashburton i-SiteEast Street, Ashburton10am to 1pm

Saturday 24 NovemberThe Salmon Fish Reserve, Rakaia Corner of SH1 and Elizabeth Street 11am to 2pmLook out for our marquee

Come and meet the team and find out more at one of our community drop-ins

You can go online and leave feedback on our interactive map, and see what others have to say on our website nzta.govt.nz/r2ae by Sunday 9 December.

How is this project funded and how much will it cost?This project is part of the Government’s Safe Roads and Roadsides Programme. This first stage, which includes design, is being funded through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Once we gather feedback and finalise our preferred option we will have an estimated construction cost. Then we can then work through our internal processes to apply for construction funding.

*Carlsson, A. (2009). Evaluation of 2+1 roads with cable barrier. Final report. VTI rapport 636A

4 3 8

Flexible road safety barriersThese barriers catch drivers who leave their lane before they hit something harder like trees, poles, ditches or other vehicles.

A car driven by a woman on methamphetamine crossed the

centreline and collided with Krystal’s Toyota. Krystal survived long enough to tell someone her name.

A 12-year-old boy, a passenger in the other car, was also killed.

Krystal’s parents, Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett campaigned for a

flexible road safety barrier on the road so no-one else would have to face

what they have been through.

Mrs Barnett believes all high-risk rural

highways should have safety barriers and encourages communities to get behind safety improvements on their roads.

“The cost of losing our daughter was astronomical,” she said.

“No family should ever go through what we did. Safety barriers are simple things but they work.”

“If a safety barrier had been in place that head-on crash wouldn’t have happened and Krystal would be here with us today.”

nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett

INFORMATION SHEET TWO | NOVEMBER 2018

We’re looking at ways to make State Highway 1 (SH1) between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer for everyone. We know people make mistakes, but there are changes we can make so that simple mistakes don’t cost lives.

Selwyn River to Ashburton safety improvements

Help us get it right

HELP US TO MAKE YOUR ROAD SAFER

1

Racecourse Rd

Fairfield Rd

Parkins Rd

Synlait Milk Ltd

Heslerton Rd

Telegraph Rd

Breadings Rd

Sheats RdSharlands Rd

Frasers Rd

Hororata Dunsandel Rd

Browns Rd

Yankee Crossing

Golf Links Dr

Works Rd

Hatfield Overdale Rd

Chertsey Line Rd

Chertsey Kyle Rd

Doigs Rd

Wilkinsons Rd

Mitcham

Rd

Camden StBoundary Creek Rd

Jamiesons Rd

Northpark Rd

Coplands Rd

Frasers Rd

Sheats Rd

Old Sth Rd

Old Sth Rd

Som

erto

n Rd

Wards Rd

Coplands Rd

Dromore Methven Rd

Winchmore Dromore Rd Stanley Rd

Rolleston

Methven/M

t Hutt

Rakaia River

Selwyn River - Waikirikiri

ASHBURTON

RAKAIA

Making the road between Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Roadside safety barrier

Median barriers or wide centreline

Project length

Wide centreline

Turn around facility if median barriers are installed

Multi-directional turnaround

Right turn upgrade (full access)

Left in/out only (restricted access)

Side road closure

Jamiesons Rd

Wards Rd

Chertsey Kyle Rd

Coplands Rd

Coplands Rd

Chertsey Line Rd

CHERTSEY

Pendarves Rakaia Rd

Main Rakaia Rd

North Rakaia Rd

Weavers Rd

S Tw

o Ch

ain

Rd

North Rakaia Rd

Willow RdEldon St

Selwyn Lake Rd

Harris St

Park St

Railway Tce

Eldon St

Cam

den

St

Selw

yn La

ke R

d

Railway Terrace

Mar

ket P

l

Selwyn Lake Rd

We’re looking at ways to make the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer Frequently asked questionsHow much longer will I have to travel to get to a turnaround bay?

If we install safety barriers down the middle of the road we would look at installing turnaround bays regularly along the route. Exact sites are yet to be finalised. We want to hear from the community and people who use the road to confirm the best locations. These turning bays would be installed less than five kilometres apart, which means the most anyone would need to travel to a turnaround bay is around four minutes.

Will agricultural or over dimension vehicles still be able to use the road?

Yes. All of our proposed changes cater for all vehicles. We will make turnaround areas big enough for these vehicles, and as side barriers will only be installed at a few high-risk locations, there will still be room to pull over.Over dimension vehicles will be able to lift their loads above the barrier height to travel.

What about emergency services? How will they get to people in an accident if barriers are installed?

Barriers can be lowered and driven over in emergency situations. However, median

barriers significantly reduce the number of crashes on

roads where they are installed.

Why don’t you just build a four lane highway?

With the road toll increasing we need to move quickly to take actions we know will help prevent deaths and serious injuries on this road. These works do not prevent larger scale work being carried out in the future if they are required but they will help stop people being killed or seriously injured straight away.

Will the public have a say?

Yes. We have been working with the community, other road users and stakeholders over the past year, and that will continue as this project moves forward.

The people using these roads have ideas and experience that can help us, and it’s important that any changes we may make fit with the way they use the road. While we have a proposed plan it is not yet finalised, and we will be looking for input from the public on the final design. Find out how on the back page of this information sheet.

What about landowners?

We have written to landowners that may be affected and plan to meet with them to discuss these proposed changes.

We understand that not everyone likes the idea of flexible road safety barriers down the middle of the road.

We want to make this road safer for everyone and easy to use, and we know there is a fine balance. The existing passing lanes will remain in place so you will still be able to pass, and we will make sure there are turning bays every few minutes so you can easily change direction.

Making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

5 6 7

Turnaround baysWe will make sure there are turnaround bays every few minutes so you can easily change direction. We are considering turnaround bays at:Selwyn Lake Road East, Camden Street, Sharlands Road, Breadings Road, North Rakaia Road West, Pendarves Rakaia Road, Stanley Road, Dromore Methven Road. Tell us what you think.

Wide centrelinesIf we don’t install safety barriers in the middle of the road we will widen the centreline to create more space between you and oncoming vehicles. More space between lanes can reduce serious crashes by up to 20 percent.*

*High-Risk Rural Roads guide, published September 2011, NZ Transport Agency. First Edition. [PDF, 3.6 MB]

‘Jug handle’ type turnaround area

Flexible road safety barrier

Flexible road safety barrier

‘Jug handle’ turnaround bay Many of the turnaround bays along the road would be a ‘jug handle’ design. This design gives people a safe place to turnaround without crossing two lanes of traffic.

State Highway 1 between the Selwyn River and Ashburton is a high-risk rural road. 13 people have died and 49 have been seriously injured in crashes between 2007 and 2016. 70 percent of deaths are from head-on crashes.

The NZ Transport Agency has been looking at ways to make this road safer. To make sure we get things right we sought feedback from the community and stakeholders. We asked people what makes this road feel unsafe and what worries them the most.

Drivers crossing the centreline

Turning off and on the State Highway in general,

but particularly at the Sharlands Road, Frasers Road, Browns Road and Dromore intersections

Walking and/or driving across

SH1 at Rakaia and Dunsandel

The main things that make people feel unsafe:

The high traffic volumes

Parking around the Mobil Service Station in Rakaia and food outlets

in Dunsandel, which makes visibility difficult

for local traffic

Crossing theRakaia Bridge

2

Racecourse Rd

Fairfield Rd

Parkins Rd

Synlait Milk Ltd

Heslerton Rd

Telegraph Rd

Breadings Rd

Sheats RdSharlands Rd

Frasers Rd

Hororata Dunsandel Rd

Browns Rd

Yankee Crossing

Golf Links Dr

Works Rd

Hatfield Overdale Rd

Chertsey Line Rd

Chertsey Kyle Rd

Doigs Rd

Wilkinsons Rd

Mitcham

Rd

Camden StBoundary Creek Rd

Jamiesons Rd

Northpark Rd

Coplands Rd

Frasers Rd

Sheats Rd

Old Sth Rd

Old Sth Rd

Som

erto

n Rd

Wards Rd

Coplands Rd

Dromore Methven Rd

Winchmore Dromore Rd Stanley Rd

Rolleston

Methven/M

t Hutt

Rakaia River

Selwyn River - Waikirikiri

ASHBURTON

RAKAIA

Making the road between Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Roadside safety barrier

Median barriers or wide centreline

Project length

Wide centreline

Turn around facility if median barriers are installed

Multi-directional turnaround

Right turn upgrade (full access)

Left in/out only (restricted access)

Side road closure

Jamiesons Rd

Wards Rd

Chertsey Kyle Rd

Coplands Rd

Coplands Rd

Chertsey Line Rd

CHERTSEY

Pendarves Rakaia Rd

Main Rakaia Rd

North Rakaia Rd

Weavers Rd

S Tw

o Ch

ain

Rd

North Rakaia Rd

Willow RdEldon St

Selwyn Lake Rd

Harris St

Park St

Railway Tce

Eldon St

Cam

den

St

Selw

yn La

ke R

d

Railway Terrace

Mar

ket P

l

Selwyn Lake Rd

We’re looking at ways to make the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer Frequently asked questionsHow much longer will I have to travel to get to a turnaround bay?

If we install safety barriers down the middle of the road we would look at installing turnaround bays regularly along the route. Exact sites are yet to be finalised. We want to hear from the community and people who use the road to confirm the best locations. These turning bays would be installed less than five kilometres apart, which means the most anyone would need to travel to a turnaround bay is around four minutes.

Will agricultural or over dimension vehicles still be able to use the road?

Yes. All of our proposed changes cater for all vehicles. We will make turnaround areas big enough for these vehicles, and as side barriers will only be installed at a few high-risk locations, there will still be room to pull over.Over dimension vehicles will be able to lift their loads above the barrier height to travel.

What about emergency services? How will they get to people in an accident if barriers are installed?

Barriers can be lowered and driven over in emergency situations. However, median

barriers significantly reduce the number of crashes on

roads where they are installed.

Why don’t you just build a four lane highway?

With the road toll increasing we need to move quickly to take actions we know will help prevent deaths and serious injuries on this road. These works do not prevent larger scale work being carried out in the future if they are required but they will help stop people being killed or seriously injured straight away.

Will the public have a say?

Yes. We have been working with the community, other road users and stakeholders over the past year, and that will continue as this project moves forward.

The people using these roads have ideas and experience that can help us, and it’s important that any changes we may make fit with the way they use the road. While we have a proposed plan it is not yet finalised, and we will be looking for input from the public on the final design. Find out how on the back page of this information sheet.

What about landowners?

We have written to landowners that may be affected and plan to meet with them to discuss these proposed changes.

We understand that not everyone likes the idea of flexible road safety barriers down the middle of the road.

We want to make this road safer for everyone and easy to use, and we know there is a fine balance. The existing passing lanes will remain in place so you will still be able to pass, and we will make sure there are turning bays every few minutes so you can easily change direction.

Making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

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Turnaround baysWe will make sure there are turnaround bays every few minutes so you can easily change direction. We are considering turnaround bays at:Selwyn Lake Road East, Camden Street, Sharlands Road, Breadings Road, North Rakaia Road West, Pendarves Rakaia Road, Stanley Road, Dromore Methven Road. Tell us what you think.

Wide centrelinesIf we don’t install safety barriers in the middle of the road we will widen the centreline to create more space between you and oncoming vehicles. More space between lanes can reduce serious crashes by up to 20 percent.*

*High-Risk Rural Roads guide, published September 2011, NZ Transport Agency. First Edition. [PDF, 3.6 MB]

‘Jug handle’ type turnaround area

Flexible road safety barrier

Flexible road safety barrier

‘Jug handle’ turnaround bay Many of the turnaround bays along the road would be a ‘jug handle’ design. This design gives people a safe place to turnaround without crossing two lanes of traffic.

State Highway 1 between the Selwyn River and Ashburton is a high-risk rural road. 13 people have died and 49 have been seriously injured in crashes between 2007 and 2016. 70 percent of deaths are from head-on crashes.

The NZ Transport Agency has been looking at ways to make this road safer. To make sure we get things right we sought feedback from the community and stakeholders. We asked people what makes this road feel unsafe and what worries them the most.

Drivers crossing the centreline

Turning off and on the State Highway in general,

but particularly at the Sharlands Road, Frasers Road, Browns Road and Dromore intersections

Walking and/or driving across

SH1 at Rakaia and Dunsandel

The main things that make people feel unsafe:

The high traffic volumes

Parking around the Mobil Service Station in Rakaia and food outlets

in Dunsandel, which makes visibility difficult

for local traffic

Crossing theRakaia Bridge

2

We’re making the road between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer

Towns along the route and the Rakaia BridgeWe won’t be installing safety barriers in townships along the route. However, we will be looking at speeds, and ways to improve visibility. People have told us they feel unsafe walking and driving across the state highway in some townships and we want to change that.

We will also be instigating a speed review across the Rakaia Bridge as people say they feel unsafe crossing it.

Have your sayHelp us get it right. Let us know what you think about this option and if you think we have missed anything important.

Janet Luxton, Community Engagement Manager, 022 313 3012

r2a@saferoads.co.nz

Krystal Bennett was just 18-years-old when she was killed in a head-on crash in 2005

Flexible road safety barriers workSeventy percent of the deaths on this road are caused by head-on crashes. We know flexible road safety barriers will make a difference.

Flexible road safety barriers ‘catch’ vehicles that leave their lane before they hit something less forgiving – like other vehicles or roadside hazards such as trees, poles and ditches.

When a vehicle hits a barrier the high-tension wire cables flex, slowing down the vehicle and keeping it upright during and after a collision. The barrier absorbs the impact, reducing the force on the people in the vehicle. Flexible road safety barriers are designed so they don’t penetrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle. They are also designed so a vehicle is not deflected into another traffic lane. Depending on the speed and angle of the impact, a number of posts may bend over. This is how the posts are designed.

What makes them ideally suited to many New Zealand roads is that they are narrow so can often be installed without significant widening of the road. They are cost effective to install, and they work – results show a 70–80 percent reduction in road fatalities.

What about motorcyclists? Some people think the steel ropes will act like a ‘cheese-cutter’ when they’re hit by a rider. Studies have shown this isn’t correct. In fact it’s the opposite. Barriers, especially flexible safety barriers, can reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads by 50 percent.*

Barriers between lanes stop a driver’s mistake from becoming a rider’s nightmare. They can also stop riders ending up in the path of oncoming traffic if they come off their motorcycle.

You can read more about flexible road safety barriers here: nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Next stepsOver the next few months we will take this option out to landowners, stakeholders and the wider community to see what they think. We’ll consider feedback and make tweaks where we need to before making any final decisions and applying for construction funding. Have your say online at nzta.govt.nz/r2ae

Now to late 2018 Talk with landowners, stakeholders and the

community about this option and gather feedback.

December 2018 – early 2019Use feedback to look at our options and make any required changes.

Early 2019Finalise preferred option and inform the public.

2019Work through our internal processes to apply for funding approval for construction. Once funding is approved and we have expected construction dates we will update everyone again. We expect work to be staged over the coming years.

This valuable feedback helped us shape a draft option to help stop people dying or being seriously injured on this road. It includes:

» Installing flexible road safety barrier down the middle of the road to stop head-on crashes.

» Adding turnaround areas at regular intervals to give people places to safely move around.

» Another option is widening the centreline so there is more space between traffic travelling in opposite directions.

» Changing some intersections so there is no right turn in or out of roads off the highway. This can

Wide centrelinesWidening the centreline is a simple and effective way to keep distance between drivers.

SpeedSpeed can be the difference between a correctable mistake and a fatal error.

help prevent side on (t-bone) crashes caused by drivers turning across the busy highway. This will also prevent drivers from crashing into the back of vehicles that are waiting to turn right, and vehicles stacking over the railway line while waiting to turn right.

» Improving other intersections and adding right turning bays to make those intersections safer.

» Installing sections of side barrier in high-risk locations (such as in front of a culvert or drain).

» Laying rumble strips to give tired or distracted drivers a wake-up call if they stray across the line.

» Improving road markings so they are easier to see at night and in wet weather.

» Instigating speed reviews at Dunsandel, Rakaia, Selwyn and Chertsey, across the Rakaia Bridge and at some major intersections.

Thursday 22 NovemberDunsandel Community Centre Tramway Road, Dunsandel3pm to 6pm

Friday 23 NovemberFormer Ashburton i-SiteEast Street, Ashburton10am to 1pm

Saturday 24 NovemberThe Salmon Fish Reserve, Rakaia Corner of SH1 and Elizabeth Street 11am to 2pmLook out for our marquee

Come and meet the team and find out more at one of our community drop-ins

You can go online and leave feedback on our interactive map, and see what others have to say on our website nzta.govt.nz/r2ae by Sunday 9 December.

How is this project funded and how much will it cost?This project is part of the Government’s Safe Roads and Roadsides Programme. This first stage, which includes design, is being funded through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Once we gather feedback and finalise our preferred option we will have an estimated construction cost. Then we can then work through our internal processes to apply for construction funding.

*Carlsson, A. (2009). Evaluation of 2+1 roads with cable barrier. Final report. VTI rapport 636A

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Flexible road safety barriersThese barriers catch drivers who leave their lane before they hit something harder like trees, poles, ditches or other vehicles.

A car driven by a woman on methamphetamine crossed the

centreline and collided with Krystal’s Toyota. Krystal survived long enough to tell someone her name.

A 12-year-old boy, a passenger in the other car, was also killed.

Krystal’s parents, Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett campaigned for a

flexible road safety barrier on the road so no-one else would have to face

what they have been through.

Mrs Barnett believes all high-risk rural

highways should have safety barriers and encourages communities to get behind safety improvements on their roads.

“The cost of losing our daughter was astronomical,” she said.

“No family should ever go through what we did. Safety barriers are simple things but they work.”

“If a safety barrier had been in place that head-on crash wouldn’t have happened and Krystal would be here with us today.”

nzta.govt.nz/flexible-barriers

Malcolm and Sharlene Barnett

INFORMATION SHEET TWO | NOVEMBER 2018

We’re looking at ways to make State Highway 1 (SH1) between the Selwyn River and Ashburton safer for everyone. We know people make mistakes, but there are changes we can make so that simple mistakes don’t cost lives.

Selwyn River to Ashburton safety improvements

Help us get it right

HELP US TO MAKE YOUR ROAD SAFER

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