Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has set a new permanent speed limit for a section of State Highway 60 (SH60) from Paines Ford to Tākaka.
In September 2020, Waka Kotahi consulted with local community, iwi, businesses and stakeholders on a proposed lower speed limit for the stretch of SH60 between Paines Ford and Tākaka.
With the Tākaka to Paines Ford shared path now complete, active mode users have a safer route to travel on, off the state highway. Together with a reduced speed limit, this will make SH60 safer for everyone.
A seasonal speed limit of 80km/h is in place on this road throughout December and January to help make the road safer with increased traffic demand. The new permanent speed limit of 80km/h will mean the summer season temporary speed limit is no longer required.
| SH60 Paines Ford to Tākaka | Current speed limit | New permanent speed limit from 5 May 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| From 100m southwest of Paines Ford Bridge to 270m south of Motupipi Street. | 100km/h (with seasonal 80km/h) |
80km/h |
This review is a part of a wider project to make speeds safe in Tākaka.
One of the first sections of road under this review is the stretch of highway from Paines Ford and Tākaka. This is a popular recreation spot with people parking near the road, and regular pedestrian and cyclist activity to and from Tākaka. Nearby is the Golden Bay Community Health Centre and intersections between SH60 and Central Tākaka and Dodson Roads.
We heard from some of the community that they are worried about the safety of the elderly, young children, and visitors. We also know that people are regularly crossing the highway with limited visibility in places, making it harder to judge approaching traffic speeds.
Ensuring the speed limit is safe for everyone will help more vulnerable road users, walkers, cyclists, and elderly and young people. It will also help people accessing the state highway from side roads or driveways, ensuring they can safely turn on and off the road.
Speed limits on the rest of the route between Upper Tākaka and Paines Ford will be consulted on once we have spoken to the community about speeds and safety on the remaining sections of State Highway 60 in Golden Bay, and once the Tākaka Hill repair works are complete.
Find out more about the SH60 Paines Ford to Tākaka speed limit change by reading the frequently asked questions.
Public consultation on the project was open for four weeks in September 2020.
A total of 121 submissions were received from stakeholder organisations and the public.
Consultation summary [PDF, 316 KB]
Consultation submissions [PDF, 2.7 MB]
More information about speed and the speed review process is available on the ‘Speed management’ webpage.
