Speed could be lowered on Te Puke's SH2 stretch

Papamoa-Paengaroa main road changes are in the wind.

Speed limits on the main road between Papamoa and Paengaroa could be lowered to 90km/h once the Western Bay of Plenty District Council takes over ownership.

A review of the open-road limit of 100km/h has started as part of negotiations leading up to the opening of the Tauranga Eastern Link toll road next year.

Ownership will switch from the New Zealand Transport Agency to the Western Bay council once the council is satisfied the road is fit for purpose and ratepayers will not be lumbered with upgrade costs.

The agency and the council have been discussing lowering the speed limit to 90km/h or possibly 80km/h along sections of State Highway 2. They are also looking at switching the road through Te Puke's shopping centre from two lanes each way to single lanes.

Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson said the public would be consulted on any proposals to lower the speed limit. He saw some merit in lowering speeds between Domain Rd to Te Puke to 90km/h, saying traffic did not go much faster than that now.

He pointed to the current 90km/h speed limit on SH2 from Tauranga to Whakamarama.

The agency was predicting 5000 inter-regional vehicles would continue to use the existing road through Te Puke once the Eastern Link opened.

Mr Paterson said the council was talking to the agency about what level tolls should be set at to maximise usage of the new road. The speed limit would depend on the nature of the road and traffic. For instance, the section of SH2 from Paengaroa to Waitangi had a good surface and open corners and could stay at 100km/h, whereas sections adjacent to Te Puke could have a different speed limit.

Asked if lower speed limits would persuade more people to use the toll road, he said: "Some people may think that."

A paper setting out the total picture, including road upgrades, was expected to go to the council by the end of this month. Mr Paterson said the Te Puke Economic Development Group was working with the local community on proposed roading changes through Te Puke, examining issues such as what it would look like and how it would function. The paper would look at how changes to the road through the shopping centre could be funded.

The agency's principal project manager Andrew Scott said the NZTA was working with the council on a review of the SH2 corridor, including a speed management plan, but no decisions had been made on speeds.

Traffic projections after Tauranga Eastern Link opens

*13,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day will travel through Te Puke.
*5000 inter-region vehicles a day will stay on old road.
*6000 inter-region vehicles a day will take new road.

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