Speed limit reduced on stretch of SH1
A stretch of State Highway 1, which has been the scene of numerous crashes, has had the speed limit reduced to 70kmh until the road surface can be repaired in summer.
About 2km of road north of Pukerau, near Gore, has had the speed limit reduced from 100kmh and large patches of worn road seal can be seen in both lanes.
In June, Acting Sergeant Dave Leach, of Gore, said the condition of the road may have contributed to a crash involving a freight truck, which left the road and hit a tree on June 6.
It was also raining at the time. The crash happened on the stretch of road which has now had the speed limit reduced.
New Zealand Transport Agency Southland maintenance contract manager Josh Webb would not comment on whether the road surface caused the crash, but said the crash did not prompt the reduction in the speed limit.
He said the speed restriction changed a fortnight ago ‘‘as a way of increasing safety for road users until the summer work season’’. ‘‘This highway is due for a full rehabilitation and reconstruction in the coming summer season.
‘‘As highway surfaces get to the end of their life, they provide less traction with vehicles, (particularly when it is wet), but by reducing speeds, safety can be improved.’’
Work to completely rebuild the road would start in September.
‘‘We constantly monitor our pavements that are what we call ‘end of life’. We aim for roads that last for more than 50 years, but that’s not just the road surface, that includes all the base layers of gravel underneath it as well.
‘‘The work is routine programme maintenance.’’
A section of road north of Winton, near Racecourse Rd, was also deemed to be ‘end of life’ and would be rebuilt.
Agency figures show at Arthurton, before Well Rd, the average daily vehicle count in 2017 was 1762, with 13.6 per cent heavy vehicles.
Pukerau fire chief Geoff Soper said the lower speed limit was ‘‘an inconvenience’’ but he did not think there had been an increase in crashes in the area because of the road surface. ‘‘There’s a fair bit of shiny tarseal there, but when you get into a car every day you have to drive to the conditions.’’