The speed limit increased on the Southern Motorway from east of Curletts Road interchange at Addington to west of Weedons Interchange at Rolleston on Sunday 13 April 2025.
The Southern Motorway is an important road that’s helped to reduce congestion and improve safety and travel time reliability. It’s an essential route for traffic travelling from the south of Christchurch, including inland ports at Rolleston, to the central city and Lyttelton Port. It’s also a strategic transport corridor for moving freight between southern regions.
As a requirement of the current Setting of Speed Limits Rule (2022), public consultation took place from 3 September to 1 October 2024.
3,975 submissions were received in total with 3,485 of these from the Christchurch/Selwyn area. This included 6 submissions from organisations.
Most of the submissions we received (68%) support the proposed speed limit increase, with 66% strongly supporting. 31% did not support the proposed increase. 1% didn’t know.
Location |
Description of location |
Length of road |
Current speed limit |
Proposed new speed limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
SH76/SH1 Christchurch Southern Motorway |
From east of Curletts Road interchange, Addington, to west of Weedons Road interchange, Rolleston |
17.7kms |
100km/h |
110km/h |
Motorway on and off ramps at Curletts Road, Halswell Junction Road, Shands Road, Main South Road and Weedons Road interchanges and Berketts Road junction are included in the 110km/h speed limit. The sections of those ramps connecting to local roads are excluded.
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CloseNZTA is committed to delivering state highways so people and freight can move quickly and safely.
This motorway has safety features that greatly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash, like two lanes in each direction, flexible median barrier between opposing lanes and a smooth alignment that offers good forward visibility for drivers.
ClosePolice apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see Police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time.
CloseThe 90km/h speed limit for heavy vehicles and towing vehicles applies on 110km/h roads. Where there are two lanes in each direction, other drivers can safely and easily pass slower-moving vehicles
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