Improving safety along the Dairy Flat Highway corridor

About the project

As part of our Road Safety Programme, we’re responding to safety concerns along the Dairy Flat Highway corridor, between Coatesville-Riverhead Highway and Stevensons Crescent.

This stretch of the road has been identified as a high-risk area with most crashes caused by loss of control or head-on collisions. The project aims to reduce the risk of crashes and ensure everyone gets to where they need to and home safely.

The changes we’re making

• Paint solid wide centreline in some sections of Dairy Flat Highway, between Coatesville-Riverhead Highway and Stevensons Crescent.
• Install rumble strips (also called Audio Tactile Pavement Markings) in some sections of the road. Rumble strips are raised markings that make noise and vibrate when driven over, alerting drivers if they drift from their lane and are proven to reduce head-on and run-off crashes.
• Install red reflective road markers or cat’s eyes. They are warning devices that help motorists drive within the lane especially in dark conditions
• Install new road signs like advance speed and curve warning signs to help drivers manage their speeds and travel through the tight curve safely

Benefits to your community:

• Safer journeys – Reduces crash risk and makes the road safer for everyone
• Clearer signage – Helps drivers navigate the area confidently and safely
• Greater driver awareness – Encourages slower speeds and extra care at high-risk bends
• Improved markings and signs – Minimise the risk of loss-of-control crashes

We will install these changes by mid-2026.

Any change to the plan will be updated on this page.

We will be in touch with the local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

How to contact us

If you'd like to speak to someone about our plans, please email us at ATengagement@at.govt.nz by 18 December 2025.

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