Waipa¯ speed limits to be lowered

More than 200 speed limits across the Waipa¯ district will be lowered by early November in an effort to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities on local roads.

Last Tuesday, Waipa¯ District councillors voted to adopt the new speed limits after an extensive community engagement and consultation process over the past 12 months.

New limits will come into effect on Monday, November 4.

The changes include reducing the speed to 40km/h in Cambridge and Te Awamutu town centres, reducing speeds near schools, adding more 50 and 60km/h zones in urban areas and reducing speeds to 60 and 80km/ h zones in some rural areas.

Transportation manager Bryan Hudson said the new limits would go a long way to making Waipa¯ roads safer.

“On average, there are 240 crashes on Waipa¯ roads each year, two people die, 91 are injured and 18 are seriously injured,” he said.

“These speed limit changes will make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.”

Changing the speed limits is a big job that takes time.

After last week’s decision, council had to order 400 new signs and when they are delivered workers will take some time to get them installed at the new locations.

It is not the only strategy council will use to make our roads safer.

“We’ve also got plans to engineer our roads to make them safer at the current speed limits too,” said Bryan.

“This might include pedestrian crossings, widening roads, adding cycle lanes and improving intersections.”

Bryan said it was important for drivers to take note of speed limit signs on their local roads after Monday, November 4 as they may have changed.

The decision to reduce the speed limits was deferred in June after councillors requested more time to consider the 576 submissions received.

Early this month the decision was brought before council’s strategic planning and policy committee where committee members recommended the changes be adopted by council.

Tuesday’s decision was passed eight to three with councillors Grahame Webber, Susan O’Regan and Vern Wilson voting against the change.

Councillors Clare St Pierre and Bruce Thomas were absent from the meeting.

■ Updated speed limits are available at www.tinyurl.com/ y6rfnpra

Photo-Graphic / Dean Taylor New speed limits will include 80km/h zones on Cambridge Road into Cambridge and Te Awamutu townships — (left) from before the busy Kaipaki Rd/Lamb St intersection and right approaching Te Awamutu before the turn-offs to Puahue Rd and Golf Rd.