Speed limits are dropped

Taupo¯ District Council’s new speed bylaw came into force last Saturday and there have been changes to several speed limits in the district.

Infrastructure manager Denis Lewis said the changes were being made to roads identified as high risk or that the community had raised concerns about.

“The majority of the changes involve speed limit reductions,” he said. “Pay attention to speed limit signs to make sure you are within the limits. These changes are being put in place to make our roads safer for all of us, so play your part and keep to the appropriate speed.”

In Taupo¯, Tauhara Rd has been reduced from 70km/h to 50km/h between Rifle Range Rd and Miro St. Between the airport roundabout and Rainbow Dr, Lake Tce has been reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h, and between Rainbow Dr and Hawai St Lake Tce is down from 70km/h to 50km/h. There is no holiday speed limit on Lake Tce.

The existing 60km/h zone at Centennial Dr is extended to Owen Delany Dr, and Napier Rd changes from 100km/h to 80km/h between the roundabout and De Brett’s, and from 80km/h to 50km/h between De Brett’s and Lake Tce. At Crown Rd the 50km/h zone has been extended,to 80km/h at the Napier Rd end. The 80km/h section of Kiddle Dr has been reduced to 50km/h.

In Western Bays, the 70km/h zone on Omori Rd is reduced to 50km/h and the 100km/h zone to 60 km/h. Pukawa Rd is reduced from 100km/h to 60km/h.

In Mangakino, Lake Rd and Rangatira Dr have been changed from 100km/h to 80km/h and the existing Lake Rd 50km/h zone has been extended towards Waipapa Rd. In Kinloch, the existing 50km/h has been extended towards Whangamata Rd, and Rapids Rd in Aratiatia has been changed from 100km/ h to 80km/h.

In Acacia Bay the existing 50km/h zone has been extended on Wakeman Rd and the Acacia Bay straight has been reduced to 80km/h. On Poihipi Rd, from Wairakei Dr to the existing 80km/h sign speed has been reduced to 50km/h, and from the existing 80km/h sign to Tukairangi Rd it has been reduced from 100 km/ h to 80 km/h.

Wairakei Dr has been reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h, and Huka Falls Rd, Huka Falls Loop Rd, Clearwater Lane and Ferndale Way have been changed from 80km/h to 50km/h, while Karetoto Rd has been reduced to 50km/ h.

■ A full list of changes is at www.taupo.govt.nz.