The next steps in making State Highway 1 safer on the Kāpiti Coast are underway. Construction has begun on a new Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC) on State Highway 59 between the Mackays Crossing and Paekākāriki interchanges.

Jetesh Bhula, Regional Manager Infrastructure delivery, says it is one of 12 sites being built on high-volume freight routes around the country and will be critical for improving road safety.

“Crashes involving heavy vehicles can and do have devastating consequences. Ensuring trucks and truckies are complying with heavy vehicle rules is about keeping the public safe, but also about keeping freight operators safe too.” 

“Since 2013 there has been a 40 percent increase in fatal and serious injury crashes involving heavy vehicles compared to an increase of 16 percent for all road crashes. CVSCs are a critical tool to help fix this,” Mr Bhula says.

When it opens in mid-2026, the centre will work with Police to target non-compliant heavy vehicles and direct them into the CVSC for inspection. Mr Bhula says it ensures all operators are following the rules.

“Those that do not follow the rules undercut and disadvantage responsible operators. CVSCs, like the one planned for Mackays Crossing, ensure there is a level playing field for everyone in the freight and trucking industry. 

“They also help us measure risk. The data collected from enforcement helps identify problem areas and lets us know where we need to help the industry make improvements,” Mr Bhula says. 

The CVSC will use advanced roadside technology to screen passing vehicles. Technology used includes in-road weigh-in-motion scales, automatic number plate recognition cameras, and electronic signs. It will screen and collect truck and operator information to monitor behaviour 24/7.

The CVSC centre is being built by Downer and has an approximate construction cost of $6.5 million.