Frustrated at a lack of action on some of the country’s most dangerous intersections, Taranaki’s regional transport committee chairman has submitted his own hand-drawn designs for consideration. Roger Maxwell sent a copy of his freehand plans to the NZ Transport Agency in the hope it would fast-track the safety improvements for three intersections on State Highway 3 near bell Block. In 2014 the NZTA released a national list of the 100 most dangerous intersections. Three of them are on the stretch of SH3 between Bell Block and Waitara with Mangati Rd, ranked 8th most dangerous, Princess St, ranked 18th, and Raleigh St ranked 64th. Safety improvements between Bell Block and Waitara were a high priority for the agency, she said, with eight deaths and 16 serious injuries happening between 2008 and 2012 on the busy stretch of highway.
