Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is seeking public input into proposals to set permanent new speed limits on State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin.
We want everyone who uses our roads to get to where they’re going safely. People dying or being seriously injured on our roads is preventable. Something we can do to save lives and prevent serious injuries is set safer speed limits.
We’re implementing several safety improvements on State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin. These improvements include new median barriers and turnaround points south of Manakau, and side barriers and painted wide centrelines south of Ōhau.
Earlier this year, we completed safety improvements at Kuku that included removal of the passing lanes in both directions, painted wide centrelines and widened shoulders. We also improved the road surface and installed safe-hit posts and rumble strips.
Alongside these infrastructure safety improvements, we’re reviewing speeds between Ōtaki and Levin to make sure the speeds are safe for the road and surrounding environment.
Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it’s what will most likely determine whether someone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed. Everybody makes mistakes so we need a transport system that is designed so these mistakes don’t cost lives.
That’s why we’re proposing some new speeds for this road. But before we make a decision, we want to hear from you.
Formal consultation on the new speed limit proposals is required under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits (2017).
Last year we talked to iwi, the community, councils, local businesses, and others about making State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin safer. We’ve heard that speeds in some sections feel too high to be safe.
Many people have commented on the speed in Ohau, Kuku, and Manakau. Others have commented on the appropriate speeds for Manakau bridge and the two bridges past Kuku.
In the past five years (2017–2021) there have been 15 people who have died in crashes on this stretch of road, and a further 44 people who’ve suffered serious injuries.
Based on what we know, we think the following would be safer speeds on this section of road:
|
Location |
Current speed limit |
Proposed new speed limit |
|
|
1 |
From 460m north of Roslyn Road to 80m north-east of Tyne Street |
70/50 |
60 |
|
2 |
From 80m north-east of Tyne Street to Bath Street intersection |
50 |
40 |
|
3 |
From Bath Street intersection to 220m south of Cambridge Street south |
50 |
No change |
|
4 |
From 220m south of Cambridge Street South to 150m south of Muhunoa East Road |
80 |
No change |
|
5 |
From 150m south of Muhunoa East Road to 150m north of Waikawa Beach Road |
100 |
80 |
|
6 |
From 150m north of Waikawa Beach Road to 180m south of the intersection with the railway underpass road linking to Honi Taipua Street |
80 |
No change |
|
7 |
From 180m south of the intersection with the railway underpass road linking to Honi Taipua Street to 380m west of Pukehou Overbridge |
100 |
80 |
|
8 |
From 380m west of Pukehou Overbridge to Taylors Road intersection* *Installation of median barrier sections with designated turnaround facilities. |
100 |
No change |
Formal consultation on new speed limit proposals is required under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limit (2017)(external link).
This was an opportunity to have your say before decisions on the speed limits for this road are made by Waka Kotahi.
Submissions closed at 5pm on Wednesday 15 June 2022.
More information about speed and the speed review process is available on the ‘Speed Management’ webpage.
