A new 110km/h speed limit on a section of State Highway 1 (SH1) along the Northern Gateway Toll Road, from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels, will come into effect from today (May 26). Although only a 5.5km section of the motorway, the Government says the increase will bring tangible benefits.
“Economic growth and productivity are a priority for the Government," says Transport Minister Chris Bishop, "and with around 11,000 vehicles per day travelling on the Northern Gateway, 9% of that being heavy vehicles, the new higher speed limit of 110km/h will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely.
“Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) consulted on the proposed speed limit increase to 110km/h. More than 7900 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, with 93% in support of the increased speed limit and 91% strongly supporting it.
“This road has been designed and constructed with safety features such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, physical median separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment. Additional safety improvements are being considered over the next 12 to 18 months."
Bishop reminds that police wil enforce the new limit as stringently as the previous one, and that the limit still drops to back to 80km/h through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels.
There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.