Gully link roads’ speed limits ‘so slow’

‘‘Put it up to 60k, and people will be doing 80k. If we’re forced to put it back down again when developments start, why do it in the first place?’’

Councillor Ross Leggett

Porirua City councillors have commissioned a report into whether the 50kph speed limit on two Transmission Gully link roads can be safely increased.

At present, motorists have to shift from the 100kph limit on the newly opened $1.25 billion stretch of State Highway 1 to 50kph on Te Ara Ka¯pehu and the Waitangirua Link Road.

The speed limit on the council-managed link roads was set after several places where drivers could lose control on bends from the bottom of a steep downgrade were identified during the design phase.

That is despite the link roads being designed for a minimum speed of 50kph, and bend danger warning signs being installed.

The limit also accounted for future housing developments planned for the area.

At a council meeting on Thursday last week, Euon Murrell asked for a report into whether the link road speed limit could be increased ‘‘without compromising the safety of road users’’, receiving the support of all but two councillors.

Among the detractors was councillor Ross Leggett, who said, ‘‘we should just suck it up and drive at 50k’’.

‘‘Put it up to 60k, and people will be doing 80k,’’ Leggett said.

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‘‘If we’re forced to put it back down again when developments start, why do it in the first place?’’

Murrell, who claimed to be a regular link road user, said the limits were ‘‘so slow that I could get out and walk’’.

Councillor Izzy Ford had fielded ‘‘many complaints’’ from Waitangirua and Whitby residents about the current limit, and that it was ‘‘quite easy to get to 80[kph] and realising ‘oops, you could lose your licence’.’’

The report would provide speed limit options for councillors, with any potential changes being subject to public consultation and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency guidelines, chief executive Wendy Walker said.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF, JERICHO ROCK-ARCHER/STUFF Left, Porirua City councillor Euon Murrell says the link road limits were ‘‘so slow’’ in parts that he ‘‘could get out and walk’’. Above, a peek from the peak – looking down onto Ka¯piti from the northern end of Transmission Gully.