After consultation with local residents and others, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has confirmed that it will lower the speed limit on a section of State Highway 2 with a history of fatal and serious injury crashes.
Speed limits will reduce from 100km/h to 90km/h along the majority of the 32km stretch of State Highway 2 between the SH1/2 interchange near Pokeno and the SH2/25 intersection near Mangatarata.
The exceptions will be the 6.2km Mangatawhiri Deviation, which will remain at 100km/h, and 1.8km through the Maramarua township where there will be no change to the 70km/h speed limit. Improvements to signs and pavement markings will be made through the Maramarua township area.
The speed limit changes will come into effect from 16 December 2011 in time for the busy holiday season when traffic volumes on SH2 nearly double to near 24,000 vehicles per day.
NZTA State Highway Manager, Kaye Clark says lowering the speed through this area is part of the NZTA’s campaign to reduce the number and severity of injuries on our roads.
“Some roads are harder to read than others and given the history in this area, lowering the speed over part of it gives drivers a signal that extra care is necessary.”
“We want to see everyone to have safer journeys on Waikato roads, especially over the holiday season,” said Mrs Clark.
