NZTA must track road cones spending

June 20, 2024

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The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) must start tracking its spending on road cones and temporary traffic management from September.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown revealed this during a Budget scrutiny select committee meeting, calling it “unacceptable” that NZTA did not already know these costs.

Brown explained that traffic management had become a significant expense in road projects. To address this, a new, more efficient traffic management code, similar to Australia’s risk-based approach, will be introduced. He noted that sometimes using road cones could be more dangerous than the actual road work.

A recent Waka Kotahi study found that many road cones were left out unnecessarily, causing frustration for motorists. The new code aims to ensure that traffic management is safer and more cost-effective.

NZTA’s current method involves including traffic management costs in overall project tenders, making it hard to separate these expenses. These costs can range from three to ten percent of a project’s total capital cost.

Contractors and councils, such as Auckland Council, which spends around $145 million annually on temporary traffic management, will also need to cut costs. NZTA Chief Executive Nicole Rosie said the current compliance-based approach could result in either too much or too little traffic management. The new risk-based system will help contractors assess each site’s needs better, ensuring safety and efficiency.

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