These speed limits were set on SH1 in Glenavy, South Canterbury and Waitaki Bridge, North Otago in 2020. In 2025, NZTA is consulting on the section of SH1 south of Glenavy, from McLean St to Jackson Rd, to see if people support keeping the 80km/h speed limit, rather than see it reverse to 100km/h.
The Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 requires some speed limits that were lowered over the past few years to be reversed to their previous higher speed limits. A section of state highway in this past speed review is affected. There are mixed views in the community today about the lower speed remaining permanently, so we’re consulting to understand whether the community wants the lower speed retained. Consultation is open 30 January until 31 March 2025.
To have your say, visit:
We want to make your roads safer for everyone who uses them. On some roads we’re doing this with safety improvements but on State Highway 1 in Glenavy (South Canterbury) and Waitaki Bridge village (North Otago), the best thing we can do to prevent people from dying or being seriously injured is reduce speed limits, so they are safe and right for this part of the road.
There were 26 crashes on this stretch of road in the 10 years between 2009 and 2018. One person died, 3 were seriously injured, and another 16 people received minor injuries.
Glenavy is a stopping location for tourists and has regular pedestrian activity. South of Glenavy, including the Waitaki Bridge through to south of Jackson Road on the south side of Waitaki Bridge settlement, there are numerous driveways and intersections, there is also the weighbridge and poor sight visibility at the river access intersection.
The following speed limits proposed during consultation have been set. These speed limits took effect on 18 September 2020.
| Location | Current speed limit | New speed limit from 18 September 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| SH1 – from 110m north of White Street to 140m south of McLean Street | 70km/h | 60km/h |
| SH1 – south of Glenavy from 140m south of McLean Street to 330m south of Jackson Road | 100km/h | 80km/h |
When determining the proposed speed limit that we consulted on, we reviewed the speeds that people are currently driving on this road, as well as the road itself. The speed limit of 60km/h from 110m north of White Street to 140m south of McLean Street was assessed to be the safe and appropriate speed limit for this stretch of road. For the section of road south of Glenavy from 140m south of McLean Street to 330m south of Jackson Road, the speed limit of 80km/h was assessed as the safe and appropriate limit.
There have been 26 crashes on this stretch of road in the ten years between 2009 and 2018. One person died, 3 seriously injured, and another 16 people received minor injuries.
These speed limits have minimal impact on travel times. Over the 3,400 metre distance, the increase in travel time is approximately 30 seconds.
We consulted on the speeds on SH1 in Glenavy, South Canterbury and Waitaki Bridge, North Otago between 7 October to 4 November 2019. 83 submissions were received during the consultation period from stakeholder organisations and the public.
More information on speed limits is available here:
