A Christchurch motorway will be the first in the South Island to be increased to 110km/h.
The change, which comes into effect from tomorrow, will stretch across 17.7km along SH1/76 on the Christchurch Southern Motorway east of Curletts Rd interchange in Addington to the west of Weedons Rd interchange in Rolleston.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the change “will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely”.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) consulted on the proposed speed limit change late last year and received nearly 4000 submissions – 68% of which were in support.
Up to 38,000 vehicles travel the Christchurch motorway per day, according to Bishop, who said the motorway has safety features that “greatly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash”.
“Kiwis have now had their say and NZTA have assessed the Christchurch Southern Motorway as being safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we’re getting on and delivering it.”
The increase on the Southern Motorway will be the first for the South Island. (Source: 1News)
Transport Minister James Meager said National is also focusing on other roads that are considered Roads of National Significance (RoNS) started by the previous National government.
“In Canterbury, we’re focused on progressing delivery of the Roads of National Significance and Roads of Regional Significance, including SH1 Belfast to Pegasus and Woodend Bypass, SH76 Brougham St Upgrades, SH75 Halswell Rd Improvements, SH1 Rolleston Access Improvements, and the second Ashburton Bridge.
“As part of long-term forward planning, NZTA is also looking at further improvements for the state highway corridor south of Christchurch.”
This includes a study into the corridor between Lyttelton Port and Timaru Port (SH1, SH76, SH74) to assess the future capacity required, resilience, replacement of State Highway 1 bridges, the role of rail, and potential four-laning of the corridor, said Meager.
“This work is expected to begin towards the end of the current 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme period.”
