Councillors support 110km speed limit on Waikato Expressway

Waipā District Councillors submit in favour of increasing the Waikato Expressway speed limit to 110km, when completed.

At today’s Service Delivery Committee meeting, Waipā District Councillors unanimously supported Waka Kotahi’s proposal to raise the speed limit on 64km stretch of State Highway 1 (SH1) – Waikato Expressway to 110km/hr.

The Expressway is nearing completion, with the Hamilton section scheduled to open in mid-2022.

The proposal was presented as part of the Transportation Report which highlighted the high safety standards of the recently completed sections of the Expressway.

“Increasing the speed limit on SH1 is appropriate and safe because these roads have been built with features that make it safer for travelling at higher speeds,” said Council’s Transportation Manager, Bryan Hudson.

“Increasing the speed limit to 110km has already been proven to work safely in the Huntly, Rangiriri and Longswamp sections of the Expressway.”

Once completed, the Expressway aims to improve safety, reliability and congestion on the state highway by providing a four lane highway from south of the Bombay Hills to south of Cambridge.

Waka Kotahi is now preparing to upgrade the remaining sections at Hampton Downs, Ōhinewai, Ngaruawāhia and Tamahere. When completed, the 64km section between Hampton Downs and Tamahere will meet the necessary design and safety standards for a 110km speed limit.

Formal consultation is now required for new speed limit proposals under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits (2017) and Waka Kotahi is receiving submissions until Tuesday 23 November 2021.

Once the feedback has been provided and reviewed, Waka Kotahi’s final decision and result will be published on their website www.nzta.govt.nz.