$18m project to improve SH1 safety ramping up

The NZ Transport Agency project on the north side of the Brynderwyns, south of Whangarei, is entering its second year to improve safety for road users.

Work on $18 million worth of safety improvements on State Highway 1 on the Brynderwyns will ramp up after Labour weekend for the summer construction season.

The NZ Transport Agency project on the north side of the Brynderwyns, south of Whangarei, is entering its second year to improve safety for road users.

It includes widening SH1, removing tight corners and installing a wire rope barrier to separate north and southbound traffic.

From Tuesday, contractors will begin widening the east side of the highway at the top of the hill, which will mean significant earthmoving work.

NZTA Northland highways manager Brett Gliddon said the work would help straighten out some of the curves, reduce the risk of crashes and minimise the impact of vehicles crossing the centre line.

"There will be some disruption for drivers while we carry out this work but it's designed to make this stretch of the state highway safer for all road users," Mr Gliddon said.

"It will also build greater resilience on the network by reducing the number of traffic delays which result from crashes, all part of our continued investment in Northland's highways.

"We made good progress through last summer and the southbound passing lane, near the bottom of the hill, will now be opened to traffic again."

The passing lane in the same direction at the top of the hill will be closed while work is completed on that section. The passing lane is likely to remain closed until late February.