Media Release



Transit New Zealand

Hamilton Regional Office

Media Release

 18 March 2008

 

Another new passing lane for SH3

Transit New Zealand has started constructing another new passing lane between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth, at Meads Hill on State Highway 3.  

Work on the new northbound passing lane at Meads Hill, follows hot on the heels of the opening of the new southbound Stockman's Hill passing lane on SH3 at Mangaotaki.  

The latest new passing lane, located 3km south of Te Kuiti, will provide passing opportunities for traffic travelling up the steep incline immediately adjacent to the former family farm of rugby legend, Colin Meads.  

Transit New Zealand regional manager Kaye Clark says, "Transit recognises the importance of SH3 to the Taranaki economy. The rugged terrain of this section of highway combined with the large number of heavy vehicles that travel on it makes passing quite difficult in places, especially on steep inclines where trucks often have to travel quite slow."  

Mrs Clark says the investment in new passing lanes is part of an ongoing strategy to improve passing opportunities and safety on the section of SH 3 from New Plymouth to just north of Te Kuiti.

Mead's Hill is the fifth passing lane that Transit has built on this section of the highway over the past three years. In addition to the recently opened Stockman's Hill passing lane, new passing lanes have also been constructed just north of the Awakino tunnel and near Te Kuiti and Piopio.  

Transit is also realigning SH3 in Awakino between the Junction Service Station and Awakino Tavern, to make the highway straighter, smoother, and less prone to slips. The 2.2km realignment will shift the highway up to 20 metres in places, and will reduce the number of curves in the road down from the current 11 to 5.  

"The Awakino Realignment project is progressing well. The earthworks phase has now been completed and the project should be finished by the end of May," says Mrs Clark

For more information please contact:

 Kaye Clark

Regional Manager

Transit New Zealand

07 903 5113 / 027 279 5751

 

Or

 

Julie Hannam

Communications Advisor

Transit New Zealand

Hamilton Regional Office

07 903 5146 / 027 294 2649