New Zealand Upgrades Pedestrian Crossing on SH1 Ōtaika

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that a new signalised pedestrian crossing will be built on State Highway 1 (SH1) through Ōtaika, south of Whangārei. The upgrade comes after years of safety concerns raised by the local community. The existing unsignalised crossing has been the site of rear-end crashes and incidents involving pedestrians. A tender for the project was released in August, and the contract is expected to be awarded in mid-October. Construction is expected to take around 6 weeks and be completed by the end of 2026. The new crossing will include improvements to streetlights, footpaths, and the road surface. The upgrade aims to improve safety and accessibility for the local community, which includes schools, kindergartens, and a medical centre. The Transport Minister thanked the local community for their advocacy and looks forward to the upgrades getting underway in coming months.