East Auckland’s busiest road is to have its previous 60km/h speed limit reinstated.
And it will happen before July 1 next year.
Pakuranga MP and Transport Minister Simeon Brown revealed today, June 17, that Pakuranga Road’s previous speed limit will be reinstated after it was reduced to 50km/h by the previous Labour Government’s blanket speed restrictions.
“East Auckland residents were rightfully frustrated when the speed limit on Pakuranga Road was first reduced back in early 2023, lengthening travel times for local commuters.
“Those who drive on Pakuranga Road every day knew Labour’s reduction would only increase congestion and make it harder to get around, without actually making the road much safer.
“The coalition Government has released a new Land Transport Rule for consultation, which will require Labour’s speed limit reduction on Pakuranga Road to be reversed by July 1 next year.
“Our new rule will also ensure in future proposed speed limit changes will take into account factors like economic impacts, including travel times, as well as the views of local road users and communities, in addition to safety.
“It will require speed limits reduced since January 1, 2020, to be reversed on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways, and will require variable speed limits around schools during pick-up and drop-off times to keep our children safe.
“Local streets outside a school will have variable speed limits set at 30km/h during these peak times, while rural roads outside a school will have variable speed limits of 60km/h or less during these times.”
Brown says the proposed speed limit rule will also enable new and existing Roads of National Significance built to a high safety standard to be travelled on at up to 110km/h.
A consultation is under way on whether limits should be increased further to 120km/h on certain roads designed to accommodate that speed, he says.
“Our Government remains committed to improving safety on our roads, but we will do so by targeting high-crash areas where the data clearly shows a greater risk, and by building and maintaining infrastructure to a higher standard.
“This includes our investment into fixing potholes across the country, where we have committed nearly $4 billion over the next three years to patch up our state highways and local roads.
“I encourage everyone to have their say on our draft speed limit rule to reverse blanket speed limit reductions across the country.
“Ultimately, drivers know their local roads best and shouldn’t be forced to slow down where it’s safe to travel at higher speeds.”
Feedback can be submitted on the Ministry of Transport’s website at www.transport.govt.nz.
