Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency consulted the public about proposals to set permanent new speed limits on State Highway 35.
In October and November 2020 Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency consulted with the public on speed limits in Te Puia Springs township and the open road between Te Puia Springs and Tokomaru Bay.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is identifying roads where safer speed limits can make a big difference in saving lives, and where communities are calling for change. We want everyone who uses our roads to get to where they’re going safely. To save lives and prevent serious injuries, we can set safer speed limits. Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it’s what will most likely to determine whether anyone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed from that crash.
There were 20 crashes on this length of road reported between 2010 and 2019, with one person dying, three people seriously injured, and another seven receiving minor injuries.
Every day around 1,100 vehicles travel this road with a mix of regular commuters, tourists, and a large and increasing number of heavy commercial vehicles. The geography of the region is made from soil that’s highly erodible and constantly moving. These factors create challenges for safety and highway management.
This is an important highway for the communities living here, and for businesses operating in the region. While we can’t change the challenging geography, we can make sure the speed limits are safe and appropriate for the area.
The following speed limits were proposed during consultation and have been set as the new permanent speed limits. The new permanent speed limits take effect from Friday 22 October 2021.
Confirmed speed limit changes for State Highway 35 Te Puia Springs to Tokomaru Bay
| Location | Current speed limit | New speed limit (from 22 October 2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Te Puia Springs Township – from 80m west of Waipiro Road (existing speed limit change) to 180m north-west of Cemetery Road | 70km/h | 50km/h |
| Open road section between Puketiti Road and Te Puia Springs – from 180m north-west of Cemetery Road to 350m south of Puketiti Road | 70km/h and 100km/h | 60km/h |
| Open road between Tokomaru Bay and Puketiti Road – from 350m south of Puketiti Road to 470m west of Beach Road (Wharf Road) (existing speed limit change) | 100km/h | 80km/h |
Map showing new speed limits from 22 October 2021
When determining the proposed speed limits that we consulted on, we reviewed the speeds that people are currently driving on this road, the road itself. as well as unique geographical makeup of the area. The new speed limits were assessed to be the safe and appropriate speeds for the route.
Every day around 1,100 vehicles travel this road with a mix of regular commuters, tourists, and a large and increasing number of heavy commercial vehicles. The geography of the region is made from soil that’s highly erodible and constantly moving. These factors create challenges for safety and highway management.
Find out more about the SH35 Te Puia Springs to Tokomaru Bay permanent speed limits by reading the frequently asked questions.
Public consultation closed in October 2020.
Consultation summary [PDF, 926 KB]
Consultation submissions [PDF, 143 KB]
Information about speed and the speed review process
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at Gisborne.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz
![View larger map [JPG, 177 KB]](/assets/projects/sh35-te-puia-springs-township-and-te-puia-springs-to-tokomaru-bay-open-roads/sh35-te-puia-springs-to-tokomaru-bay-new-speed-limits-map.jpg){kind=link}