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A new 110km/h speed limit on the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway came into effect on July 1 and applies from 2.5km north of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels to south of the Warkworth roundabout.
This would have placated many Rodney drivers who were frustrated it hadn’t been raised when the Northern Gateway Toll Road was increased to 110km/h on May 26.
At the time, a multitude of exasperated motorists took to MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi Chris Penk’s Facebook page to vent.
Glyn Williams said, “C’mon Chris – you of all our MPs should know it’s utterly ludicrous to leave Puhoi to Warkworth at 100km/h! It’s probably the safest piece of motorway in NZ.”
David Thatcher posted, “Is that it, just that short stretch?! That is not really anything to get excited about. Make it 110km/h all the way from Orewa to Warkworth, otherwise it is not really worth all the fuss for such a short stretch.”
Michael Bosman-Wright asked, “Will there be an increase to 110km/h north of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels in the future under consideration?”
Penk replied to Bosman-Wright, “Thanks for the question and yes indeed, very much under consideration.”
Minister of Transport Chris Bishop said the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) publicly consulted on increasing the speed limit late last year, from north of the Puhoi interchange viaduct to south of the Warkworth roundabout to 110km/h.
More than 7900 submissions were received across Northland and Auckland. Responses were overwhelmingly positive with 94 per cent in support of the increasing the speed limit and 91per cent strongly in favour.
“Kiwis have had their say and NZTA has completed all required technical assessments, with the motorway being assessed as safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we’re getting on and delivering it,” Bishop said.
There is a transition zone where the speed limit will be kept at 100km/h for a short length (2.5km) north of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels over two viaducts. This section is an area of weaving movements, where traffic is diverging and merging, exiting and egressing on short, narrow on and off ramps, with narrow lines of sight over the viaducts, and does not meet safety criteria for an increased speed.
Bishop said the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway had been designed and constructed with safety features that greatly reduced the risk of death and serious injury in a crash such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, flexible median barrier separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment.
Since opening in 2023, no one has died in a crash on this stretch of road.
He added, “Police will apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time. Drivers should continue to drive to the conditions, free from impairment and distraction, and make sure everyone’s wearing their seatbelt.
“Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity, and with over 20,000 vehicles travelling this motorway every day, the new higher speed will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely.”
Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels speed limit
The speed limit on SH1 through the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels will remain 80km/h. While the SH1 Johnstone’s Hill tunnels are built to high safety standards, the enclosed environment within a tunnel creates a different safety risk to that of the surrounding motorway. There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.
