Background Information
Q: What has changed to make the NZ Transport Agency decide to close the median barrier now? A: The NZ Transport Agency is improving intersections all along State Highway 2 through the Hutt in the interests of road safety. This is in line with its duty under the Government’s New Zealand Transport Strategy. The high Horokiwi crash rate continues despite the banning in 1999 of right turns out of the suburb which followed 17 crashes in six years involving right-turning vehicles. Since then crash statistics and the heavy traffic flow are such that the Transport Agency has no other option than to close the barrier as soon as is practicable to prevent right turns into the suburb. SH2 is the only link from the Hutt into Wellington, with a traffic count of 43,000 vehicles passing Horokiwi each day. Even the slightest disruption of traffic flow at Horokiwi can cause traffic flow to break down and can result in delays and increases the risk of nose-to-tail accidents.
Q: What work will be done at Horokiwi A: Work is expected to on closing the median barrier later this year. It will include realigning the median barrier to provide sufficient space to develop acceleration and deceleration lanes turning left into and out of the suburb. It will also include measures to improve the safety of cyclists through the intersection. Map of Horokiwi intersection median closure
Q: What are the crash statistics at Horokiwi? A: Sixty-nine crashes, four of them serious occurred at or near Horokiwi between January 2000 and August 2008. Thirty were attributable to the gap in the median barrier, including: • Two serious injury accidents • Nine minor injuries. Q: What were the results of the July 2008 video survey? A: Just one day’s worth of video on 10 July 2008 showed a constant parade of cars suddenly braking to let turning traffic through, causing lines of cars to brake and come to a halt behind them. Some examples from the 10 July 2008 video survey: • Two trucks turning right across the highways into Horokiwi at the same time, travelling side by side • A near collision between a right-turning car and a cyclist • Two examples where a north-bound vehicle skidded heavily to avoid running into the back of vehicles that had stopped to allow right-turning traffic through • Left-turning vehicles leaving Horokiwi forcing their way into small gaps in the traffic, forcing traffic to brake.
Q: Why won’t the NZ Transport Agency install traffic lights or a flyover at Horokiwi to make it easier to get across the highway? A: A number of options were considered but building a flyover in this location is impracticable. Installation of traffic lights, while they have their place, would not be a sensible option on this 100 kilometre per hour stretch of road. They would delay SH2 traffic and would increase the chances of nose-to-tail crashes, particularly because of the restricted visibility on the north-bound approach caused by a corner round the steep cliff face. It is not practicable to attempt to alter this corner. Traffic lights will be removed at other Hutt highway intersections as part of projects to improve safety and traffic flow, for example, the current Dowse to Petone Project. Other travel options may be possible long term following completion of the Ngauranga Triangle Strategy Study which is considering a link from Grenada to Gracefield.
Q: Is the closure of the median barrier at Horokiwi the only intersection closure that NZ Transport Agency is making? A: The NZ Transport Agency is making improvements to intersections all along SH2 through the Hutt to improve safety and traffic flow. The barrier has been closed at the intersections with Hebden Crescent, Wairere and Pomare Roads, and Moonshine Road.