Improving road safety along the Hibiscus Coast Highway

PROJECT UPDATE: Improving road safety along the Hibiscus Coast Highway

In April 2024, we contacted the community regarding safety improvements we planned to install along the Hibiscus Coast Highway. This stretch of road is considered high-risk for crashes, primarily caused by loss of control or head-on collisions and we are committed to ensuring this road is safe for all drivers and their passengers.

What we proposed:

1. Three new electronic warning signs to alert drivers to slow down for the tight curves. These are located approximately:
   • 100m south from 1050 Hibiscus Coast Highway (northbound)
   • 100m south from Waiwera Road intersection (southbound)
   • 400m north from 710 Hibiscus Coast Highway (southbound)
2. Realigning the centreline to create wider separation between traffic lanes where possible
3. Installing cat's eyes and rumble strips
4. Changing the southbound passing lane (near the driveway of 1050 Hibiscus Coast Highway) to a slow vehicle bay to allow slow-moving vehicles to give following vehicles a safe opportunity to pass

The changes we’ve made in 2024

• Three new electronic warning signs were installed in October 2024.

The rest to be completed in 2025

• After our final investigation, we will only be installing cat's eyes and rumble strips.
• We will not be shifting the centreline as some parts of the road are too narrow to safely allow this change
• The Southbound passing lane will stay as it is. There aren’t many chances to safely pass 10 kilometres before this sport, and our crash data shows that this passing lane hasn’t caused any major safety issues.

Map: Site of the safety improvements along the Hibiscus Coast Highway

Benefits to your community

• Better signage helps road users who are unfamiliar with this stretch of the road to drive to the conditions and manage their speed effectively.
• Cat’s eyes and rumble strips are small bumps as warning lines on the road to alert drivers that they need to take action as they are leaving the road/lane and are proven ways to reduce the risk of head-on and run-off-road crashes. When the car goes above them, they make a noise and vibrate (rumbling) through the wheels, which can be felt inside the car. These devices help boost drivers’ awareness of the lanes and curves on rural roads like Hibiscus Coast Highway by providing markers you can see, hear and feel.
• The Rodney district has one of the highest rates of deaths and serious injuries from crashes in the Auckland region. These are some of the actions we can take to ensure everyone gets where they need to safely.

What happens next

• We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.
• Any change to the plan will be updated on this website.

How to contact us

If you’d like to speak to someone about our plans, please get in touch by emailing us at ATEngagement@at.govt.nz by 11 May 2025.