Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has set permanent new speed limits on SH1 Moerewa to Kawakawa.
We want to make our roads safer for everyone who uses them. On some roads we’re doing this with safety improvements, however on SH1 between Moerewa and Kawakawa, the best thing we can do to prevent people from dying or being seriously injured is to ensure speed limits are safe and right for the road.
To help us fully understand the issues on the road, we asked the community to give us their views on speed limits along SH1 between Moerewa and Kawakawa. In July 2019, we asked the public for feedback on current and proposed speed limits. We then publicly consulted on our proposed speed limit changes along this corridor from October to December 2019, and used people’s feedback, alongside our technical reviews, to make our decision on safer speed limits.
The following speed limits were proposed during consultation and were set as the new permanent speed limits.
The new permanent speed limits took effect on 24 August 2020.
| Location | Previous speed limit | New speed limit |
|
SH1 Moerewa to Kawakawa – Moerewa township - from Leaity St to 330m east of Sir William Hale Crescent east, Moerewa |
70km/h | 50km/h |
|
SH1 Moerewa township to Kawakawa - from 120m east of Taumatamakuku Settlement Rd East to 160m north of Station Rd, Kawakawa |
100km/h | 80km/h |
Over the 10 years from 2009 to 2018 there were 43 crashes on this stretch of road with two people killed and six seriously injured.
A small change in speed makes a big difference, especially when cyclists or pedestrians are involved. Most crashes are caused by a number of contributing factors, but even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it is most likely to determine whether anyone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed.
A review of average travel speeds shows people are typically driving at 65-69km/h in the stretch through Moerewa township, and 75-79km/h in the stretch from Moerewa township onward. The new permanent speed limits will have minimal impact on travel times. Over the 5.17km route from Moerewa to Kawakawa, the increase in travel time will be approximately 18 seconds.
More information about speed and the speed review process is available on the Speed Review Programme webpage.
SH10 Awanui to Kaingaroa
SH11 Puketona to Paihia