This project will improve road and roadside safety on State Highway 7 between Waipara and Waikari. Improved safety features include side barriers, rumble strips, upgrade of existing barriers on three bridges, improved signage and high performance road markings along the whole route.
Between 2008 and 2018, one person died and 12 were seriously injured in crashes on State Highway 7 between Waipara and Waikari.
Most of these crashes were caused by drivers losing control and driving off the side of the road. The majority of deaths and serious injuries were from crashes on curves through the Weka Pass, which is a windy mountain pass with narrow shoulders.
We have made changes to make this road safer and help reduce these types of crashes occurring in the future.
We have installed roadside safety barriers to help prevent drivers from running off the road and hitting something much less forgiving - like a tree or power pole.
We installed rumble strips to give fatigued or distracted drivers a wake-up call if they stray across the white line, and new road markings that are easier to see when it's dark and in the wet.
We also upgraded the existing barriers on three bridges, Weka Creek, Antills and Archers.
