Limited-access roads are sections of the state highway, usually bordered by residential or commercial properties, that can only be accessed from authorised crossing points. About 3850km or 37% of the entire state highway network are limited-access roads.
Accessways are points at which physical access is gained between a property and the state highway.
We create limited-access roads in the interests of road user safety. This is because they're often in areas with the potential for unrestricted residential or commercial development – which brings with it more vehicles needing access and higher safety risks.
When we declare a road a limited-access road, we authorise existing crossing places to the road through notices to the landowners. The notices specify where the crossing places are in relation to the title boundaries.
To see whether your property is on a limited access road, view our limited-access road map.
Limited-access road map(external link)
Information about whether you property is located on a limited-access road may also be noted on your certificate of title (copies are available from the Land Information New Zealand website).
Land Information New Zealand(external link)
If you are still not sure whether your property is on a limited-access road, or if you wish to find out about a specific section of limited-access road, please contact the Waka Kotahi Environmental Planning Team at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency who will be able to advise.
If your property is on a limited-access road, vehicles and stock can only access the road from an 'authorised crossing place'.
Each parcel of land that has legal access to a limited access road and that does not have reasonably practicable alternative legal access to a local road, is entitled to one crossing place. Waka Kotahi will specify the location of crossing place.
You'll need to contact us if you're seeking to:
Early in your planning process, contact the Environmental Planning Team to discuss what you need. And remember, if your plans require a resource consent, we'll be an 'affected party', so you'll need to talk to us before you lodge your consent application.
In most cases, we require access to be from a local road, not the limited-access road. However, if this isn't practicable, your proposal should minimise the number of access points from the state highway, and all of them must be safe.
We'll assess your proposal according to its effect on the state highway's safe and efficient operation. Our safety standards include criteria such as:
For more information on our criteria for assessing development proposals refer to Appendix 5B of the Planning policy manual.
If you want to apply for a new crossing place or change the use, location or construction standards of your existing crossing place, contact the the Environmental Planning Team to discuss.
Your crossing place authorisation might include conditions that we consider necessary to ensure the state highway's safe and efficient operation. Once the authorisation is complete, we'll send notices about it to the owner and the occupier.
For more information on limited-access roads and other queries, email the Environmental Planning Team at environmentalplanning@nzta.govt.nz
