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The coalition government’s decision last year to reverse many of the road speed limit reductions brought in since 2020 continues to confuse many drivers and tax national and local roading authorities.
Under the new Land Transport Setting of Speed Limits Rule, NZ Transport Authority Waka Kotahi (NZTA) was required to reverse speed reductions imposed on state highways, changes that came in automatically in most cases in July.
On local roads, Auckland Transport (AT) is currently focusing on a requirement to reduce speed limits outside all schools by July next year, then will work with local boards where there are concerns over speed limits on other roads to assess whether they should be changed.
A move by Rodney Local Board member Geoff Upson to bring forward changes for certain key rural connector roads (MM, Jun 9) was discussed again at last month’s business meeting.
Members had asked about the cost for AT to publicly consult on potential changes to individual roads ahead of the wider project, but were told that was not an option.
AT’s programme director for speed limit reversals, Andrew Garrett, said roads needed to be assessed and data gathered as a package before seeking public feedback.
Members voted to ask AT to prioritise a shortlist of rural connector roads – Pohuehue Road and Hibiscus Coast Highway, south of Warkworth; Woodcocks Road, Warkworth: Kahikatea Flat Road and Pine Valley Road, Dairy Flat; the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway and Peak Road, near Kaukapakapa; and South Head Road.
Upson said after the meeting he believed the speed limit on Pohuehue Road should revert back from 80km/h to 100km/h and be recategorised as an inter-regional connector, instead of a rural connector, as it was the free alternative route to the tolled motorway.
He said if AT didn’t do that, NZTA should not be able to charge a toll for the motorway, as Pohuehue Road was not a feasible alternative route under its current classification.
Upson also criticised speed limit revisions further south, between Waiwera and Orewa, which now go from 80 to 60 to 70 to 50 in the space of a few kilometres.
