Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has set new speed limits on SH6 between Blenheim and Nelson.
Slowing down saves lives and there is a strong link between speed and safety on our roads. We want to make roads as safe as possible so we are reviewing speed limits across the network where there are concerns they are not safe or appropriate.
Some people told us that speed limits on State Highway 6 between Blenheim and Nelson feel too high to be safe. After reviewing these speed limits, we formally consulted on proposed new speed limits to make this road safer.
Formal consultation was open for four weeks, between 15 October and 12 November 2019, and we asked for feedback from people on any additional information that would help inform our decision about the proposed speed limit changes.
We considered information gathered through consultation alongside our technical assessment to make our decision, and the following new speed limits will take effect from Friday 18 December 2020:
|
Location |
Existing speed limit |
New speed limit from 18 December 2020 |
|
400m west of Rose St, Blenheim to 335m west of Jacksons Rd, Woodbourne |
100km/h |
80km/h |
|
340m west of Jacksons Rd, Woodbourne to 130m east of SH6/SH63 Intersection, Renwick |
80km/h |
No change |
|
130m east of SH6/SH63 Intersection to 250m north of Gee St, Renwick |
50km/h with a 40km/h advisory school zone |
No change |
|
250m north of Gee St, Renwick, to 440m south of Mahakipawa Road, Havelock |
100km/h |
90km/h |
|
440m south of Mahakipawa |
70km/h |
50km/h |
|
60m south of Kavanagh Road to 300m north-west of Clive St, Havelock |
50km/h with a 40km/h advisory school zone |
No change |
|
300m north-west of Clive St, Havelock to 40m west of Wakamarina Rd, Canvastown |
100km/h |
90km/h |
|
40m west of Wakamarina Rd to 260m west of Tapps Rd, Canvastown |
100km/h |
90km/h with a 60km/h variable school zone |
|
260m west of Tapps Rd, Canvastown to 320m south of Pelorus Bridge (southern abutment) |
100km/h |
90km/h |
|
320m south of southern abutment of Pelorus Bridge to 320m north-east of the northern abutment of Pelorus Bridge |
100/50km/h in Dec/Jan |
60km/h |
|
320m north-east of the northern abutment of Pelorus Bridge to 340m north of Hills Rd, Rai Valley |
100km/h |
90km/h |
|
340m north of Hills Rd to 180m north of Bryants Rd, Rai Valley |
60km/h with a 40km/h advisory school zone |
No change |
|
180m north of Bryants Rd, Rai Valley to 770m north of Whangamoa Saddle Summit |
100km/h |
80km/h |
|
770m north of Whangamoa Saddle Summit to 280m north of Teal Valley Rd |
100km/h |
60km/h |
|
280m north of Teal Valley Rd to 25m south of Lud Valley Rd, Hira |
100km/h |
80km/h |
|
25m south of Lud Valley Rd to 105m south of Cable Bay Rd, Hira |
80km/h |
80km/h with a 60km/h variable school zone |
|
105m south of Cable Bay Rd, Hira to 440m north-east of Allisdair St, Atawhai |
100km/h |
80km/h |
|
440m north-east of Allisdair St to 100m south-west of Atawhai Cres north, Atawhai |
80km/h |
60km/h |
|
100m south-west of Atawhai Cres north, Atawhai to 250m north-east of Trafalgar St, Nelson |
100km/h |
80km/h |
Please note, advisory school zones along the route are unchanged.
View larger image of map [PDF, 1.6 MB]
When determining the proposed speed limits that we consulted on, we reviewed the speeds that people are currently driving on this road, as well as the road itself. The new speed limits taking effect on 18 December 2020 were assessed to be the safe and appropriate speeds for the route.
State Highway 6 between Blenheim and Nelson is a high-risk rural highway. In the ten years between 2009 and 2018, 20 people died and 92 were seriously injured. Of these, 19 of the deaths and 87 of the serious injuries were in areas with a 100km/h speed limit.
A further 5 people have died in crashes on the highway in 2019 and 2020 and all deaths occurred on 100km/h sections. (Please note 2019 and 2020 data is not yet complete).
Many of these crashes involved loss of control, with drivers running off the road and hitting roadside objects such as trees and power poles. There have also been head-on crashes on this highway, and some at intersections.
Lower speed limits will reduce the number of crashes and resulting deaths and serious injuries.
Having speed limits set at the correct level for the conditions on specific roads is one of the most important ways we can help people get to where they need to go safely. Lowering the speed limit is one of the ways we can create safer roads for all users, and we are also investigating improvements to existing infrastructure along SH6.
Find out more about the new SH6 Blenheim to Nelson speed limits by reading the frequently asked questions.
Public consultation closed on 12 November 2019 and we received over 1000 submissions from stakeholder organisations and the public.
More information about speed and the speed review process is available on the Speed Review Programme webpage.
