Eyewatering spend-up

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) spent an ‘eyewatering’ $786 million on road cones and temporary traffic management over the past three years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.

 Brown says temporary traffic management is necessary but costs have spiralled out of control under the current health and safety regime, which is being updated to reflect a more risk-based approach.

“Excessive use of road cones and temporary speed-limit reductions – sometimes left in place when work is complete – simply increases cost, forces people to slow down and frustrates drivers,” he said, pointing out that the mammoth NZTA figure does not include spending by local councils.

 For more on this topic, read LawNews’ deep dive on New Zealand’s cones of shame.