Temporary speed limits on State Highway 25 (SH25) around the Coromandel Peninsula will be returning to their former level soon.
Following storm events early last year and an increase in traffic using SH25, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) temporarily lowered the speed to a safer limit around SH25 as an emergency provision.
Temporary speed reductions can only remain in place for a maximum 12 months without being renewed. In this case the emergency situation has passed, and by early October all the SH25 temporary limits will have expired, explains NZTA’s Director of Regional Relationships for Waikato Bay of Plenty, David Speirs.
"Following the 2023 weather events and closure of SH25A, traffic patterns and volumes changed on the Coromandel Peninsula, leading to concerns about the impact of increased traffic flows through communities.
"After a road safety review, temporary speed limits were introduced to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians around the peninsula.
"Now there’s no longer an emergency and SH25A has reopened, the temporary speeds will be removed, and permanent speed limits reinstated," says Mr Speirs.
NZTA is aware that there is some community support for retaining reduced speeds in some areas, however changing any speed limit is a legal process and there are numerous steps NZTA must follow.
In June/July 2024, the Ministry of Transport held consultation on a new Land Transport Rule for setting speed limits and the new rule is due to be finalised in the coming months.
"Once the new speed Rule has been finalised NZTA will consider how it applies and if any of the temporary SH25 speed limits can, or should be made permanent, to meet community needs," Mr Speirs says.
