People from Te Poi, Matamata and Tauranga are being asked to share local insights as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency continues to review speed limits on state highways around the region.

State Highways 24, 29 and 29A in East Waikato and Bay of Plenty are under the spotlight after being identified as roads where safer speed limits could make a big difference in preventing deaths and serious injuries.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships David Speirs says between 2010 and 2019, 28 people died and 118 were seriously injured on these roads.

“We’re working toward a future where no-one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he says.

“Lots of change is needed to get us there but there is one thing we can do that will make a huge difference immediately – making speeds safer on our roads.

“The speed of a vehicle at impact is the single biggest factor that determines if you or someone you love walks away from a crash.”

In the past, Waka Kotahi has heard concerns about the speed people are travelling on these roads and through the local communities.

“Engaging with the community helps us understand how people feel about current speeds in the area, including on roads around their local school, marae, business or workplace.”

This information helps when deciding if a speed limit change is the best thing to do to improve road safety, where new speed limits might begin or end, and if any other safety improvements might be needed. The feedback also helps decide if and what speed limit changes will be formally consulted on.

“We’d like people to tell us about places that are hard to get to or from, how safe they feel crossing the highway or letting their children walk or cycle to school in certain areas, and if there are any other sites or information that we need to be especially aware of,” Mr Speirs says.

“Reviewing speed limits is something we can do to prevent avoidable deaths and help us to achieve our Road to Zero target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent over the next 10 years.”

Have your say

Come and see us at a drop-in session:

• Thursday 21 October, 3pm–6pm
  Te Poi School Hall, Stopford Road, RD3, Matamata
• Friday 22 October, 3pm–6pm
  Matamata-Piako Civic and Memorial Centre, 17 Tainui Street, Matamata

If you are unable to attend in person and wish to provide feedback, go to our project webpage or email email hidden; JavaScript is required

SH24 SH29 and SH29A speed review information

Feedback closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 3 November 2021.

Please note: The drop-in events will only proceed under COVID-19 Alert Levels 1 and 2. If they are unable to proceed due to a change in alert levels you can still have your say by emailing your feedback or commenting on our interactive map on the project webpage.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

A crane is now at the scene, with the Police Serious Crash Unit in attendance, but the highway could be closed into the evening, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Senior Network Manager Chris Harris.

Please note: An earlier traffic bulletin put out by Waka Kotahi (now taken down) said that 50MAX vehicles were able to take the relatively short coastal detour – this is not the case. However, a number of freight vehicles were allowed through SH1 this afternoon when there was a temporary clearance on the highway.

Local coastal detour for light vehicles only (cars, vans)

“There is a coastal detour through Karitane, which takes longer than SH1 to reach Dunedin and requires care on its winding areas at Puketeraki. It is only suitable for light vehicles – cars and vans,” says Mr Harris.

Longer detour inland for HPMV and 50MAX

“50MAX vehicles and HPMV (High Productivity Motor Vehicles) drivers who do not want to wait at the stop point, should turn inland at Palmerston if they are travelling south onto SH85, into Kyeburn and take SH87 to Mosgiel and Dunedin. Northbound freight vehicles should take the reverse trip.

Overweight or over-dimension vehicle drivers

Drivers of these vehicles will also have to use the inland detour via Kyeburn, if permitted to do so and bear in mind traffic volumes if over-dimension.

“This is 190 kms and is more than two hours in duration. There are fuel stations in Palmerston, Outram, and Mosgiel,” says Mr Harris.

• Traffic and road closure updates
• Police updates

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Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTASouthIsland
• Twitter Otago/Southland: twitter.com/WakaKotahiOS
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

The detour will take State Highway 1 traffic via Ngaruawahia while night works are done where the Hamilton section, which is under construction, joins the Ngaruawahia section.

For three nights between Monday 11 and Wednesday 13 October all southbound bound traffic will be detoured from Taupiri to Horotiu between 8pm and 5am. The closure is required to move and extend the temporary steel barriers that provide protection for workers.

High Productivity and Over-Dimension vehicles should use State Highway 26 and State Highway 1B due to the weight restriction at Ngaruawahia’s town bridge.

Southbound motorists are asked to plan ahead and allow additional time for their journeys during the works.

In the event of poor weather, work will be moved to the next suitable nights. Visit the interactive Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) for up-to-date information on the works, as well as other road works, road closures, detours and traffic.

This detour will be required every so often over the next 6-9 months for tie-in works for the Hamilton section of the Expressway. Most work is being done behind barriers, with traffic reduced to a single lane north and south within the works area.

The 22km Hamilton section of the expressway is expected to open to traffic next year.

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

View larger map

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)