Lower speed limits for Kāpiti roads

A new speed limit will apply to certain Kāpiti roads affected as part of the Expressway project from April 12. The changes come after six weeks of consultation between the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), The Mackays to Peka Peka Alliance and the Kāpiti Coast District Council late last year. The motion to approve the new speed limits was passed unanimously by the Council. From 12 April, temporary speed limits that were put in place during the construction of the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway on Emerald Glen Road, Waterfall Road near Mackays Crossing, Ratanui Road, and Otaihanga Road in Otaihanga will be removed and replaced with a 60km/h speed limit. Some sections of the roadways, particularly Waterfall Road, are unsealed. A 60km/h speed limit will also be applied to Ngā Manu Reserve Road and Maurice Smith Way in Waikanae once construction is complete. Temporary speed limits at the Poplar Avenue interchange will be removed and replaced with a 50km/h speed limit along the entire avenue once construction is finished. Temporary speed limits on Hadfield Link and Te Kowhai Link Roads will also be removed once construction is complete, and replaced with an 80 km/h speed limit. NZTA highway manager Neil Walker says the revised speed limits are in response to changes in traffic on local roads now that the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway is open. “The speed limits reflect the function of these roads and aim to minimise harm on roads that have been newly created or reconfigured as part of the Expressway project,” he said.. “The changes take into account technical assessments of suitable speed limits, and feedback received from the Kāpiti Coast community.” The $630 million Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway is 18km four-lane highway along the Kāpiti Coast, and is part of a larger project, the Wellington Northern Corridor, which will provide much-needed roading between Wellington and key regional towns.