Motorists could soon be driving north of Auckland at speeds up to 110km/h between Ōrewa and Warkworth.
The Government has proposed raising speed limits along the 25km stretch of modern motorway, up from 100km/h.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown told a press conference in Warkworth today the increased limit would help “unlock economic growth and productivity by moving people and freight quickly and safely between regions”.
“We know how critical these connections are for motorists and freight operators, and we’re committed to ensuring that state highways enable people to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely,” he said in speech notes.
The faster speed limits would stretch along the Northern Gateway Toll Road opened in 2009, and the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway opened in 2023, north of Auckland.
The only exception would be the tunnel at Johnstons Hill where the speed limit would remain at 80km/h.
Brown said the two sections of SH1 had been built to high safety standards and no one had died in a crash along them since they opened.