On the 7th of June 2021 there will be changes made to the speed limits on some local roads. 

Between May and June last year Waka Kotahi consulted the local community, iwi and road user groups on speed limit changes, in an effort to find out what would help save lives, prevent serious injuries and reduce the number of crashes on the stretch of State Highway 1 between L Phillips Road and Pūhoi,.

“We know this is a particularly high risk stretch of road. There are tight and difficult corners along parts of the route as well as very narrow shoulders and poor visibility. Between 2010 and 2019, 10 people were killed and 47 seriously injured in crashes,” says Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships Steve Mutton.

“The insights from everyone who provided a submission or feedback on the proposal helped us in our technical review and as a result we have been able to make an informed decision on these speed limit changes,” says Mr Mutton.

“Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it’s what will most likely determine whether anyone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed from that crash.”

The new speed limits will come into effect from June 7, but will be implemented in two phases to align with the expected opening of Matakana Link Road (Auckland Transport) and the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth in mid-2022.

The motorway will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstones Hill tunnels to just north of Warkworth. It will connect to the Northern Gateway section of SH1 south of the Johnstones Hills Tunnels.

Ara Tūhono will vastly improve the safety, connectivity and resilience of the network between Northland and Auckland, helping to boost the economic potential of the Northland region.

Over 23,000 vehicles currently travel the route each day, with vehicle numbers increasing Along with the devasting effect on families and communities, crashes on this route can cause extensive delays and long detours if there are road closures.

New speed limits for SH1 L Phillips Rd to Pūhoi from 7 June 2021

• Phase One - new speed limits will come into force on 7 June 2021, as set out in the table above.
• Phase Two – (after construction of roundabout around mid-2022) the speed limit will be further reduced to 60km/h from 200m north of Kaipara Flats Road to 365m north of Hudson Rd. We will notify people of this phase two speed limit change at that time.