Motorists are being told to stay patient about temporary measures put in place to make State Highway 3, north of New Plymouth, safer. The speed on the stretch of SH3, between Mangati Rd in Bell Block and Mahoetahi Rd, near Brixton, was reduced to 80kmh and two passing lanes along the route were shut in December 2013. The New Zealand Transport Agency and police made the decision to put the temporary changes in place in an attempt to make the killer stretch of highway safer. However the removal of the passing lanes has been widely criticised by motorists who say it’s made the highway less safe. Concerns raised include a lack of room for heavy vehicles, no where to pass slow moving traffic and no cycle lanes. Feedback on the changes should be sent to hno-pn@nzta.govt.nz by email or mailed to NZ Transport Agency, PO Box 1947, Palmerston North 4440 and should be headed “Speed Limit North of New Plymouth”.
