Latest news with #StateHighway1
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Serious crash blocks State Highway 1 at Manakau
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER A serious crash has blocked State Highway 1 at Manakau on Tuesday. Emergency services were called to the scene between Whakahoro Road and Kuku East Road about 10.20am. Diversions are being arranged and motorists are advised to expect delays. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Wellington train line given all clear after reports of car hitting bridge
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens Trains are running again on Wellington's Kāpiti line after a halt due to reports of a car hitting a rail bridge. The report of the collision came from a member of the public at 7.25am on Tuesday. The bridge runs over the top of State Highway 1 in Ngauranga Gorge in Wellington. Metlink said KiwiRail had to inspect the bridge before services could run again. The bridge was given the all clear, Metlink warned delays were possible staff and trains got back to where they were needed on the line. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Curious, concerned: Picton residents weigh in on SH1 changes
By Kira Carrington , Local Democracy Reporter NZTA staff meet with residents at Picton Library about moving State Highway 1 onto Kent Street. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington In a small room in Picton's library, dozens of people have gathered to discuss the intricacies of truck routes, intersections, school crossings and parking spaces. They pored over stands and wall displays, showing the proposed permanent State Highway 1 route along Kent Street to the ferry terminal, instead of through central Picton. The proposed changes have already caused controversy, with one resident calling them "horrible" , when they were announced on 11 June. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's pop-up sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday hummed with questions, fresh ideas and a bit of debate, but not from Heather Hopkins, a resident of upper Kent Street, who had popped in to see how the highway would go past her home. She was pretty happy, she said. Picton resident Heather Hopkins says she has no concerns about NZTA's proposed changes. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington "I'm not really affected, I just wanted more information," Hopkins said. "[I have] no concerns at all, it'll be free flowing, once everyone gets used to it." In the evening session, people were most drawn to the board showing where Kent Street met the Wairau Road/SH1 intersection, which would take ferry passengers and freight trucks from the terminals out of town under the new proposal. As part of a realignment of SH1 through Picton, changes have been proposed to the intersection of State Highway 1 and Wairau Road. Photo: NZTA Lara O'Brien, who lived around the corner from Kent Street, said the intersection's new alignment would cut residents off from their own town centre during peak traffic. Drivers on SH1 south of Kent Street wanting to get into central Picton would need to make a right-hand turn onto Wairau Road towards Nelson Square. During peak ferry traffic, they would be stuck in a right-turning lane with no gaps, O'Brien said. "These people [leaving the ferry terminal] get to just go, but people going to town, when do they get to go?" O'Brien said. "You get 60 trucks coming out of the ferry terminal. This is going to be a congestion point for locals coming out of town." Another group lingered around the board showing the relocation of the Picton School crossing on Kent Street. People are particularly drawn to the planned changes for the Wairau Road/Kent Street intersection. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington Many of the attendees were reluctant to speak publicly about their opinions on the divisive subject. The loss of roadside parking and problems with trucks parking along the road were common complaints. A truck driver from Levin, whose cousin was a Picton-based truckie, came along to the evening session. He said NZTA did a similar consultation about a pedestrian overpass in Levin and he was sceptical that feedback would alter the proposal. A Picton resident praised NZTA for moving the crossing outside Picton School back to its original position, saying he didn't know why it was put there a few years ago. "They're just putting it back to where it was, because people don't use it." Graphics supplied by NZTA show the loss of parking on Kent Street under the new proposal. Photo: NZTA NZTA regional manager of system design Robert Osborne said the sessions were a valuable way of sharing information with Picton residents and getting their feedback. "The drop-in sessions were all well attended, with around 30 - 40 people each session and some coming to visit us a couple of times to ask further questions," Osborne said. "We received a great range of questions and comments, which will help us with our detailed design work. "We also understand... that there will likely be a wide range of opinions about them. However, this project is aimed at improving Picton's roads and making it easier for people to get around. "We look forward to continuing to hear from the community about our plans." Design plans would now be finalised and work would start next winter. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
NZTA proposes State Highway 1 change through Picton for cars using Cook Strait ferries
The Bluebridge's Connemara and Interislander's Kaiarahi in Picton. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee The official route of State Highway 1 through Picton could change to match the route cars now take to enter and exit Cook Strait ferries. The Transport Agency was proposing making Kent Street a state highway and changing three key intersections to help traffic better flow. NZTA regional manager system design Richard Osborne said ever since the Interislander ferry terminal was relocated to Lagoon Road in 2023, all vehicles accessing the ferry terminals had been using Kent Street. "Traffic volumes have increased on Kent Street, whereas flows on State Highway 1 Nelson Square/Wairau Road have decreased," he said. "Kent Street has been acting as the de facto state highway. This is one of the key aspects the Picton -Road Network Improvements Project wants to address." The planned changes to the road network in Picton. Photo: Supplied / NZTA NZTA was also proposing making Auckland Street and Wairau Road local roads. Osborne said the designation and revocation would be subject to a Notice of Requirement under the Resource Management Act. Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor said the changes were good news for residents and drivers in Picton. "What we want is the efficient movement of that ferry traffic into the Picton CBD but also for those vehicles and freight particularly that want to get on the road south they need to be able to get going. This is a real upgrade it'll help them exit the town and get on the road," she said. Taylor said NZTA would be consulting with the town through the rest of this year, with construction set for mid-next year after the busy summer period. "There are going to be some changes for the people of Picton and it's going to take them a little bit to get their head around some aspects of it, it's also going to change how they move around their town," she said. "I'm really keen to hear what people in Picton are going to think about this." NZTA said drop-in sessions had been planned for next week so the community could find out more about the improvements for the state highway and three intersections. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- RNZ News
Wellington's Terrace Tunnel reopens after armed police halt traffic
Police conducted an armed stop in the Terrace Tunnel on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Terrace Tunnel on State Highway 1 in Wellington has reopened after an armed police stop. Police say around 11.30am on Wednesday they received a report of a person pointing a firearm at another member of the public in Kilbirnie. Police said they then followed a vehicle of interest travelling north towards the Terrace Tunnel where an armed stop was conducted. Police conducted an armed stop in the Terrace Tunnel on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The northbound side of the Terrace Tunnel was temporarily closed but has now reopened. An RNZ reporter on the scene said police cars were blocking the left-hand lane while police on motorbikes were directing traffic. Police were scattered over the empty portion of the road, she said. Traffic management and a tow truck had arrived on the scene shortly before midday, she said. Police have taken two people have been taken into custody. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
