Info from from Waka Kotahi in the July 2023 Update on the SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project:
Construction of the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements continue to progress, with the first phase of works between Ōtaki and Manakau. This work includes three turnaround bays and stretches of median and side barriers.
The southern turnaround at the bottom of Forest Lakes Hill is now open and work on the Pukehou Rail Overbridge turnaround and Gleeson Road turnaround is underway. Side barriers have also been installed south of the southern turnaround.
Contractor Downer have been on site overnight this week, installing median barriers between Taylors Road and the southern turnaround. Weather permitting, this section of road safety barriers will be complete next week.
While work is progressing between Ōtaki and Manakau, we are undergoing further design investigations for the next phase of safety improvement works between Manakau and Ohau. We will continue to keep you updated on this work.
Between 2018 and 2023, 13 people were killed and 38 seriously injured in crashes between north of Ōtaki and south of Levin, making it one of New Zealand’s most dangerous sections of road to drive. The safety infrastructure improvements on this section of road are underpinned by the Safe System approach, which recognises people make mistakes, but these mistakes do not need to cost us our lives.
Note: in an item which didn't make it into Waikawa News at the time, back on 05 July 2023 a truck and car collided on State Highway 1 in Manakau. Luckily no one was injured.
A police spokesperson said they were called to the crash around 10am on Wednesday [05 July 2023], on SH1 between Mokena Kohere St and Waikawa Beach Rd.
A St John spokesperson said they sent one ambulance and one rapid response vehicle to the scene but were stood down by police en route.
Fire crews were also called to the crash, which did not cause any road blockages.
