NZTA would like to thank people for providing feedback during this consultation process. We are now analysing feedback alongside the technical data and cost-benefit analysis before determining the final speed limit for these sections of road. |
We are consulting on 1 ‘urban connector’ state highway location in Manawatū-Whanganui between 2 April – 14 May 2025, as part of a proposal to change back to lower speeds.
Under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 (the Rule), specified sections of state highway, categorised as urban connectors with lowered speed limits, are required to automatically reverse to their previous higher speed limit by 1 July 2025.
NZTA has received feedback on some urban connectors, including 1 in Manawatū-Whanganui where the community is strongly in support of keeping the current lower speed limits.
After careful consideration, including past technical safety assessments and historic evidence of community support, NZTA is undertaking a new formal review of speed limits on this section of road. The speed reviews include consultation, and will take into consideration safety, technical, cost benefit and other data, alongside community feedback to determine if we should re-set the speed limit to the lower proposed speed limit. If the outcome of the new reviews result in lower speeds being re-confirmed, current signage will remain in place.
More information on speed reduction reversals
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Changing speed limits is a legal process. The Rule allows NZTA to set speed limits for roads under its control where there is alignment with the intent and requirements of the Rule.
This new review in Manawatū-Whanganui proposes a lower speed on a section of SH3 in Whanganui. The new review acknowledges that under the Rule, on 1 July 2025, this location must reverse to their previous higher speeds (for eg, 70km, 80km or 100km, depending on where they are). In light of this, these new speed reviews are proposing to change back to the lower speeds immediately following this change in July, (eg back to the lower speed they have today). The proposal shows the economic impacts, which NZTA then considers alongside the views of road users gathered during consultation and technical safety assessments, to determine if we set the lower speed limit.
Below you will find more detailed information on the proposal including a description of the state highway section, why a speed limit change is proposed, and a Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement that describes the estimated safety and travel time impacts and implementation costs of a proposed speed change.