Proposed safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin

Median barriers, painted wide centrelines, and side barriers are to be installed between Ōtaki and Levin in the interests of road safety. Whatever the timeline, this is bound to lead to delays in travel as work is done.

According to the Waka Kotahi Ōtaki to north of Levin project update, October 2022, they are currently working out a timeline with a contractor for the construction of proposed safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin.

They say:

State Highway 1 safety improvement update

In July 2021, we shared proposals for safety improvements on State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin. In the time since, we have continued to refine the proposed designs while also delivering early safety improvement infrastructure between Manakau and Ohau, completed earlier this year.

At engagement, we presented plans for stretches of median barriers, painted wide centrelines, side barriers and a roundabout at the SH1/SH57 intersection.

As with all Waka Kotahi projects, we have conducted thorough reviews of our plans on SH1 before we move into construction. This is to ensure we get the best safety improvements possible within the scope of each project.

Following community and stakeholder feedback and these technical reviews, we’ve identified a number of areas where changes to the design needed to be made to make the road as safe as possible. This includes changes to the ‘southern turnaround’ location and additional stretches of median barrier between Manakau and Ohau. The SH1/SH57 roundabout is also no longer included in this safety improvements project.

We are currently working out a timeline with a contractor for the construction of the proposed safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin.