New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has unveiled plans to improve safety at an intersection near Hamilton Airport.
Intersection speed zones improve the safety at rural intersections along high-speed roads. Photo: NZTA
Public consultation opened this week on a series of safety proposals – and one is the introduction of an Intersection Speed Zone at Raynes Rd where it meets Airport Road, State Highway 21.
Intersection Speed Zones are designed to improve safety at rural intersections on high-speed roads. They detect when a vehicle is approaching on a side road and activate an electronic variable speed limit sign to temporarily show a lower speed limit on the main road.
It is proposed to make a 500 metre section of Airport Road an Intersection Speed Zone and the limit would drop from 100 to 60kph when activated.
NZTA said the zones can reduce fatal and serious crashes by 69 per cent, while total crashes can be reduced by 28 per cent.
“People will be familiar with seeing intersection speed zones around the region. The signs are installed at rural locations where there is a high risk of serious crashes involving people turning in or out of an intersection,” regional manager of Infrastructure Delivery for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Jo Wilton said.
“Reducing speeds through an intersection means that crashes are less likely to happen because people will have more time to react to mistakes and avoid collisions.
“By slowing oncoming traffic down, intersection speed zones also reduce the risk of someone being killed or seriously injured if a crash does happen. A small change in speed can make a big difference to the outcome of a crash.”
The other end of Raynes Rd – where it meets SH3 Ōhaupō Road, is covered by an Intersection Speed Zone implemented in September 2023.
The zone was introduced after more 30 crashes there between 2011 and 2021.
Traffic hot spot at Raynes Rd where Sue Davies was involved in an accident. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
In August 2021, Kaipaki resident Sue Davies told The News of her experience – her car was written off after being hit by a vehicle coming out of Raynes Rd onto SH3.
Although the speed zone has improved the crash rate, Davies believes a roundabout or “no right turn” would be a better option.
“I still go past the intersection every day because that’s my way home from work in Hamilton,” Davies said.
“It has improved. People are slowing down, but at the same time, there’s still room for improvement. It always comes down to cost.
“I do feel that the 60 sign is working but it’s still a blind spot. I certainly think it should happen the other end though towards the airport.
“We go past there as well and sometimes some people just pull out of Raynes Rd. They don’t even stop and think about who’s coming. That should be a slow down area too.”
Design and installation of a speed zone costs about $200,000.
An intersection speed zone would take around six months to investigate and complete, depending on procurement, access to power and related intersection improvements.
Public consultation will run to October 3.
Sue Davies vehicle after the collision
