SH22/SH1 Drury to Paerata

We’re working to make State Highway 22 (SH22) between Drury and Paerata safer.

We know this stretch of road is an important link for people driving to work as well as for freight, but unsafe passing lanes and poor visibility at intersections make it difficult for drivers.

Between 2009 and 2018, there were 212 crashes on this stretch of road. 7 people were killed and 42 people were seriously injured.

Something has to change. 

What we're doing

There are ways we can improve the road to prevent crashes like these, and to make sure that if a crash happens, people are less likely to be killed or seriously injured.

We’re looking at making these improvements:

• Making the stretch between Glenbrook and Paerata safer by putting in a flexible safety barrier in the middle of the road in some areas to reduce the risk of head-on crashes.
• Putting in flexible safety barriers along the side of the road to stop drivers running off the road, preventing them hitting something harder like a tree, fence or power pole.
• Adding turnaround locations along the corridor to allow for safe places to turnaround, this is for traffic which will not be able to turn right across the highway in locations where there is a median safety barrier.
• Adding some right turn bays on the SH22 corridor to make turning off and on SH22 safer.
• Removing unsafe passing lanes, including the passing lane by the Pukekohe Golf Course.
• Creating a wide road shoulder so there’s space for people on foot or on bikes and room to pull clear off the road.
• Making the SH22 and Glenbrook Road intersection safer by putting in a roundabout.
• Reviewing the speed so it is safe and right for this road.

New speed limit to make SH22 safer

As part of the proposed safety improvements, and review of speed limits, we engaged with the local community and key stakeholders in 2017 and 2018 to understand people’s views on current and proposed speed limits along this corridor. In October and November 2019, we formally consulted with the public on proposed speed limit changes on State Highway 22 between Drury Interchange and Paerata. 

We thank everyone who provided feedback on this speed review. The insights received by partners, stakeholders, the local community and road users offers us valuable information to ensure speeds are safe and appropriate for the state highway and everyone who uses it.  

We used the information gathered through consultation and our technical review process and our decision on the speed limit changes is to implement the speeds that we proposed during the consultation. The new permanent speed limits will come into effect on 30 June 2020. 

More information about the new speed limits and locations