Speed to increase on parts of Auckland's motorway system

Monday, 16 July 2018

The red part with green dots is to range between 30kmh and 100kmh, depending on the conditions.

The maximum motorway speed around Auckland's Waterview Tunnel will increase from Monday next week.

Upset motorists campaigned to have it lifted back to 100kmh after it was reduced to 80kmh for roadworks on the Northwestern Motorway but not increased once the motorway was widened and tunnel opened.

The NZ Transport Agency on September 12, 2017, back-tracked on the restrictions, saying the speed would be increased.

On July 16 it said the speed would range from 30kmh to 100kmh on the roads around the tunnel from July 23.

**READ MORE

Auckland man Bradley Scales declared victory with a beer back in September after the petition he started to increase the speed on the Northwestern Motorway appeared to be successful.

* Variable speed zones introduced on SH16

* NZTA consults on raising motorway speed

* Speed limit fixed at 80kmh**

'Speed limits are likely to be reduced during peak periods when there are typically high traffic volumes and in the event of incidents, crashes, maintenance work or extreme weather conditions,' acting system design manager Kevin Reid said.

'The motorways around the Waterview Tunnels are complex with a lot of different lane changes and high traffic volumes so we encourage people to follow the signs and drive to the conditions at all times.'

The stretch of State Highway 16 from St Lukes towards the city would have its maximum speed increased at a later date, Reid said.

'The Transport Agency takes adjusting speed limits very seriously and we have appreciated people's patience while the necessary investigations, consultation and legal processes were completed.'

The maximum speed limit of the tunnel itself would remain at 80kmh, he said.

Auckland residents declared victory in September last year after NZ Transport Agency announced the changes.

Bradley Scales had launched a petition to get the Northwestern Motorway speed limit back up to 100kmh – where it was before the billion dollar roadworks for the Waterview Tunnel began.

The petition gained nearly 14,000 signatures.

'I'm feeling extremely happy with with the overall result and it's a win for the Auckland public,' he said at the time.

'It's good to know the community has the same opinion as me and demanded change.'