Media Release
Transit New Zealand
Wangnui Regional Office
Media Release
26 March 2008
Community celebrates start of Ohingaiti safety improvements
Transit New Zealand, the Ohingaiti Community and the Minister of Transport today celebrated the start of construction of the State Highway 1 Ohingaiti to Makohine Realignment. The project will make journeys on SH1 through the Central North Island safer and easier.
Minister of Transport Hon Annette King, Rangitikei Mayor Chalky Leary, and Transit General Manager Capital Projects Colin Crampton turned the first sod this afternoon at a community ceremony in Ohingaiti.
The 3.6km realignment removes the steep, winding road on Makohine Hill that has seen a number of fatal and injury crashes, and replaces it with a straighter, safer route. The project also includes the construction of an overpass to replace a level crossing which was the scene of a double fatality last July, the construction of a three-span bridge over the Makohine stream, and a new passing lane.
Minister of Transport Hon Annette King says the project is one of many projects underway that will improve safety in the region.
The Government is committed to safer roads and safer communities, and this project ticks all the boxes.”
Transit regional manager Errol Christiansen thanked the Ohingaiti community for its fantastic support.
“We've brought this important safety project forward as the region's top priority and we're really pleased to get started."
Rail safety advocate Chris Cairns, the founder of the Chris Cairns Foundation, also supports the project.
“I am right behind anything that improves rail safety in New Zealand and would like to congratulate all involved with this project at Ohingaiti.
“The reason why the Foundation I set up last year has achieved so much in a short time is because of the support we have had from central Government and agencies like Ontrack, the Police, Land Transport New Zealand, Transit and our private backers such as Toll NZ.
“I will pass through Ohingaiti when I undertake my walk from Auckland to Rolleston in August in memory of my sister Louise and look forward to seeing the start of improvements then.”
Transit says that the project is scheduled for completion in mid-2011.
More information about this project, including aerial photos showing the route and information on the planting programme, can be downloaded here.
For further information please contact:
Errol Christiansen,
Regional Manager Wanganui
Email: errol.christiansen@transit.govt.nz
Phone: 06 345 4173 or 027 453 1647