The Dairy Flat Highway will soon become a safer place to travel around, with a number of road safety improvements – and reduced speeds – to be introduced from early next year.

Between 2008 and 2017, there have been nine deaths and 55 serious injuries – with a number of these crashes taking place at the Coatesville-Riverhead/Dairy Flat Highway intersection.

One of the major improvements is a roundabout to replace the Coatesville-Riverhead/Dairy Flat Highway intersection.

The roundabout will reduce speeds, and enhance safety travelling to Dairy Flat and Coatesville. This project is partly funded by the Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) and construction will begin in the first half of 2019.

Other improvements include new right turn bays, centre median safety barriers, side barriers and intersection upgrades.

More consistent and safer speeds

Auckland Transport also plans to reduce speeds at different sections of the highway, creating more consistent and safer speeds.

This includes speeds being reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h along the highway, and from 100km/h to 60km/h around the Dairy Flat Village.

AT's Group Manager Network Management and Safety, Randhir Karma, believes the safety improvements will make a big difference.

"We have to reduce the number of people that are being killed or seriously injured on our roads," he says.​

"The Dairy Flat Highway safety improvements will go a long way to addressing these issues, as well as making it easier and safer to travel along the highway."

Rodney Local Board member Louise Johnston welcomes the safety improvements.

"Lots of members of the community have a horror story to tell about Dairy Flat Highway. These safety improvements are going to save lives, and cannot come soon enough. The combination of the new roundabout, improved intersections and general upgrades are going to make a massive difference."

Find out more information on the Dairy Flat Highway Safety Improvements.