The new 110km/h speed limit on the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will come into effect tomorrow morning, Tuesday 1 July 2025. This change applies from 2.5km north of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels to south of the Warkworth roundabout, replacing the previous 100km/h limit on this 18.5km stretch of State Highway 1.

The speed limit through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels remains at 80km/h due to tunnel-specific safety considerations, and a 2.5km transition zone north of the tunnels will maintain a 100km/h limit because of weaving traffic and limited sightlines.

This motorway section, opened in 2023, was designed with safety features including two lanes each way, median barriers, and a wide, mostly straight alignment. Since opening, there have been no fatalities on this route.

Public consultation on raising the speed limit was conducted from 3 September to 1 October 2024, receiving 7,911 submissions with approximately 93% supporting the increase.

The speed limit increase aims to improve travel efficiency for over 20,000 vehicles daily, supporting economic growth, freight movement, and tourism between Auckland and Northland. Police will enforce the new limit with the same rigor as other roads, emphasizing safe driving practices.

This follows after last month's speed limit change for the 5.5-kilometre section of SH1 (between north of Ōrewa and south of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels) from 100km to 110km per hour. You can read more about that change here: https://matakanacoastapp.com/NewsStory/110km-h-speed-limit-introduced-for-northern-gateway-toll-road/6832f112c35b2e0484c3fae3#top