2 Dec 2015

Extra $25m to boost tourist driver safety

4:33 pm on 2 December 2015

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has set aside $25 million to improve safety for visiting drivers.

Scenic road to Mount Cook National Park.

Photo: 123rf

The money comes from the 2015/2018 National Land Transport Programme, and will be targeted across three categories.

The project has set aside $15m to be spent on improving highway engineering on popular tourist routes in Otago, Southland and the West Coast.

This will include further rumble strips, improved rest area signage, more 'keep left' signs and extra lanes, road widening and barriers where possible.

Projects to improve local roads jointly with local councils in the same regions will cost $8.75m.

A social marketing programme to inform visiting drivers will cost $1m.

The transport agency said, if the scheme was successful, it would be extended to other regions.

The work will be in addition to existing Visiting Drivers Projects.