Median barriers: Residents protest on SH2

SH2 median barrier protest. Photo supplied.

Protestors are lining the roadsides between Matahui Rd and Morton Rd to protest NZTA’s decision to resume works on SH2 median barriers.

Yesterday NZTA released its decision to continue the works to install median barriers on State Highway 2 between Waihī and Ōmokoroa despite the negative response from locals.

This will be the second protest on the issue after a rolling protest in June.

Upset by NZTA’s response to locals’ concerns, the group is protesting again in Aongatete on the side of the road with signs. A protester called 0800SUNLIVE to say there are about 40 people in the protest.

A Katikati resident says: “There are numerous protestors and police on the roadside between Matahui Road roundabout and Morton Road roundabout on SH2 this morning at 10am as men start the road works for the road wire barriers today.

SH2 median barrier protest. Photo supplied.

“It’s a sad day for the locals as many find the wires a barrier to their everyday lives.”

The median barriers would prevent right-hand turns along the section of SH2 which worries locals as the barriers would force an extra 7km of travel to access the side roads which would slow emergency services.

Numerous letters have been sent to NZTA regional relationships director David Speirs, Coromandel MP Scott Simpson and Minster for Transport Simeon Brown from the area’s residents voicing their concerns.

Katikati resident Annette Bates says: “The problem is they have not paused to consider our concerns as they have already commenced installing the barriers today [Thursday, July 4] from Morton Road.”

SH2 median barrier protest. Photo: Blake Judson.

When asked the extent locals are willing to go to in order to prevent the installation of these barriers, Annette says: “Continued protest action until a satisfactory outcome is achieved.”

Lund Rd local Rick Burke has written to David Speirs saying: “Our community will not back down until you redesign the proposed works plan that restricts access in and out of our roads.”

SH2 median barrier protest. Photo: Blake Judson.

“As agreed, in response to the community voicing concerns about the median barrier installation, we paused work while a review was completed, and I can confirm work is now proceeding as planned,” David says in a response this week.

“While we incorporate feedback and changes from the community on designs, where possible, designs are based on evidence (both international and around Aotearoa New Zealand) and technical advice, with safety being a focus, along with other design and construction criterion.

SH2 median barrier protest. Photo: Blake Judson.

“Changes to the overall design of the safety improvements have been made throughout the project.

“However, it is our view that the median barrier is less effective with more gaps in the barrier introduced.

“Roundabouts have been built with the purpose of providing safe turnaround locations, to reduce the risk of intersection crashes and right turns across SH2.

This week, early works for the installation of 1.4km of barriers will begin, between Morton Road and the Aongatete River bridge.

SH2 median barrier protest. Photo: Blake Judson..

“Recently, there has been a high level of aggression directed at our team and contractors.

“The online and onsite treatment our NZTA staff and contractors have faced is not acceptable.

Following vandalism of SH2 recently, last week one of our crew was confronted by a member of the public who drove between the cones and parked in the work zone and was abusive and aggressive.

“This, and several other examples of unacceptable behaviour, have been reported to NZ Police.”

10 comments

Illogical

Posted on 05-07-2024 12:24 | By Ziggaty

When the only way to get your point across is to harass workers then NZTA bosses need to stop hiding behind their desks and explain themselves. What the NZTA people are doing is putting the risk across to local residents and whats more, they do not seem to give a ratz. With all the improvements they have done in widening the road, installing turning bays that never existed before, and putting a meter wide safety strip is more than enough. To now put fear into those that have to co-exist with these medium barriers is just a step too far. The Wright Road barrier, for example, begins not that far from the bridge. In fact BECA has written in a report that these are dangerous and will cause accidents. Did the NZTA listen to their report? It seems not


Sensibility

Posted on 05-07-2024 16:07 | By Tomoki

The council, local MP, and neither the Minister of Transport will listen to the concern. The concern will only be sugar-coated when the elections are around the corner. NZTA has just ignored the feedback from the people, it’s like, people can protest as much as they can, but we will keep doing what we want to.
If the design and feedback were evaluated, then what is the solution to the issue IF, yes IF there is an accident within the barrier area, how will the traffic move? There is no way the vehicles could turn around. All the vehicles will be stuck in there if the road is closed for hours. I have used the road for almost 30 years and during accidents, I was able to turn around and go home but now, I will be stuck between barriers.


Not about Safety!

Posted on 05-07-2024 16:32 | By GreenRidgeFarm

This is not about safety at all, big business still get right turn access, with logging trucks into the mill, kiwi fruit into the pack house etc, purely residents on the side roads get blocked in! It’s a joke! NZTA are dodgy, selling this as safety but overlooking the obvious… this will impact local business and divide our communities, locals will be forced to change where they shop etc, disgusting. David Speirs should be sacked!


NZTA bullies

Posted on 05-07-2024 17:25 | By MikeJW

Nzta say they “paused work while a review was completed” they never consulted the locals, it was an internal jackup. Where is this review, who did it and who did they consult with? As usual David Spiers hides behind out of date data and is still obsessed with the past governments roads to Zero policy.


Listen to the people

Posted on 05-07-2024 17:26 | By M.A.

NZTA
Stop wasting our tax payers money spending a fortune on something that is not only very expensive but also unnecessary also I am not sure why you would waste money putting steel barriers up on the side of the road when there is a perfectly good bank to run into no wonder the country is broke.
And on the roads, I travel daily between Waihi and the Mount I just wish you could do the roads once and do it right a lot of those sections have been redone several times in the past 6 years. 🤬


NZTA Katikati

Posted on 05-07-2024 19:45 | By NZoldkiwi

This is where our country has got to after the last government where no one takes any notice of those that are immediately affected by these brain dead decisions. If you want to make the road safer wouldn't you spend this money on replacing the bridge by Claymark.


NZTA don't care about locals

Posted on 06-07-2024 08:56 | By Lund

All that matters to them is numbers. Not people.
And those numbers are OLD.
Why block safe turns?
Why are NZTA so adversarial? Where is the listening and compromise?


Road Safety v Convenience

Posted on 06-07-2024 16:48 | By rational?

I thought they wanted to reduce the risks on this road. For the wider community users, that is happening and unfortunately some people are inconvenienced. There were major protests to increase safety on this road but the locals don't want all of that if it is a nuisance to them?
They did say 'you can please some of the people some of the time'.


Take NZTA to court

Posted on 06-07-2024 17:02 | By RJW

Why don't the barrier protesters take NZTA to court?


Where is the evidence?

Posted on 07-07-2024 16:21 | By gaelicc

David Spiers claims that the use of median barriers is based on evidence, and yet he has not presented any evidence of accidents at these intersections since the road was widened and turning bays added. If no accidents have occurred in the last 3 to 5 years, then there can be no evidence that adding median barriers now will make any improvement, and David Spiers is lying.

We need to see recent accident statistics for each access road that will be blocked by the new median barriers.


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